Young foreign nationals more than twice as likely to be unemployed than their UK counterparts, new data reveals
By PATRICK CARDWELL, INNOVATION REPORTER and CAMERON ROY, INNOVATION EDITOR
Published: | Updated:
Young foreign nationals are more than twice as likely to be unemployed as UK nationals of the same age, according to new data.
Figures published by the Office for National Statistics show that 27 per cent of young non-UK nationals are unemployed, compared with 13 per cent of their British peers in the same age range.
The disparity is widest amongst EU nationals, with 29 per cent of them being classified as unemployed. In comparison, 24 per cent of non-EU nationals are unemployed.
Critics have labelled the shocking figures as yet more proof that migrants can have a negative impact on the economy.
Alp Mehmet, chairman of Migration Watch UK, said: 'The potential scale of the influx of workers is seriously worrying.
'It would impact on a job market already under enormous strain from the influx of foreign workers in recent years.
'A limitless supply of cheaper labour will, of course, benefit employers in the short term, but it will also discourage productivity improvement and innovation, while bearing down on wages for many of the lowest earners.
Migrants on board a small boat off the coast of Hardelot, France, during an attempt to cross the English Channel on Friday, October 30, 2026
'This is what happened in 2004 and 2014 with new members of the EU. The same will surely happen again.
'There is a real risk that if we were to re-adopt the free movement rules, it would be those in lower-skilled, lower-paid jobs that would be affected most.
'Nor should we forget that comparable EU economies are in a worse state than ours, particularly in respect of youth unemployment. Andy Burnham's attempts to take us back into the EU's orbit by stealth should be resisted at all cost.'
The report defines unemployment as people without a job who have been actively seeking work in the past four weeks.
It comes amid heightened concern about youth unemployment, which has spiralled out of control to reach its highest level in 12 years.
Migrants living in the UK with temporary immigration statuses – such as a work, study or family visa – are not eligible for benefits because they are subject to the 'No Recourse to Public Funds' condition, which prevents access to welfare.
But those who came to the UK after Russia's invasion of Ukraine, as well as those with refugee status or settlement, can claim benefits.
Explosive analysis published earlier this month suggested that almost 2 million foreign nationals were receiving benefits or the state pension - 1.3 million of whom were on universal credit.
The findings from the Centre for Social Justice (CSJ) think tank stated that Britain shelled out approximately £14.3billion of working-age benefits in 2025, with that number expected to reach almost £27billion in 2030.
CSJ founder and former Work and Pensions Secretary Sir Iain Duncan Smith said the findings showed that 'governments have let unconstrained immigration drive up the welfare bill'.
He argued that 'we must urgently now restore contribution and reciprocity to the welfare system while helping the millions of Brits on out-of-work benefits'.
A DWP spokesperson said: 'It is wrong to assume that anyone not in work is automatically dependent on benefits, and those without a UK immigration status are unable to claim Universal Credit.
'Through our Youth Guarantee we are creating up to 500,000 jobs and training opportunities to help ensure every young person, regardless of their background is able to earn, learn and get on in life.
'We will bring forward further reform following the conclusion of Alan Milburn's review into youth unemployment.'
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