UK IMMIGRATION NEWS

Europe has an ageing population and needs more immigrants

Wednesday, 6 May 2009

A report published last week by the European Commission showed that Europe's working age population would peak next year and start declining afterwards, which would have huge budgetary and economic impacts for all European countries.

Based on the projected birth rates, life expectancy and migration flows, the Europe's population will be roughly the same in 2060 at about 500 million, but will be significantly older. By 2060 Europe will have 2 people of working age for every person aged over 65, in comparison to 4 people of working age currently.

Vladimir Spidla, the European Commissioner for social affairs, warned that the current recession should not deflect governments from tackling this challenge and said:

"In dealing with the short-term challenges of the economic crisis, we must not forget the long-term challenge of ageing. We need to emerge from this crisis with more and better employment opportunities for older people."

According to the report, the European Union will see only half of the current number of immigrants coming to the region in the next 50 years. This could put another strain on many European countries that have been facing low birth rates. In addition, it is reported that immigrants in countries such as the UK and Spain are returning home in the current recession.

Many companies in Europe have been outsourcing their support functions, such as call centres, to countries like India for cost savings. However there is widespread public concern over outsourcing especially in the current economic climate.

The UK government has tightened its immigration rules in order to reduce the number of immigrants with a view to protecting the labour market and public resources. Such politics driven measures should however be reviewed regularly so that the UK can remain competitive in the global market.

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