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Events

International Migrants in Rural Areas: Communities, Impacts and Issues

07 October 2008

10am – 4pm
St Martin-in-the-Fields Hall, Trafalgar Square, London WC2

During the past ten years, increasing proportions of new migrants to the UK have settled in rural areas, where many are employed in agriculture, food processing and the hospitality sector. These rural migrants include many from the EU’s new member states, as well as other groups such as work visa holders employed in the health and social care sector. In the space of ten years, migration has moved from being an urban phenomenon, to being an issue that affects rural and urban localities alike.

This event presented new research on migration into rural areas. The research has been conducted by the Migration and Equalities Team at ippr, supported by the Commission for Rural Communities. The event aimed to:

  • present new research on the impact of migration on public services in rural areas
  • examine ways in which public services might become more responsive to migrants
  • present new research on the risk to rural economies caused by changing migration flows, and look at how these risks can be managed.

Rural migration has brought many benefits, but it there is also the potential for negative impacts. Evidence on the impact of migration on rural economies suggests that migrant labour is crucial. But employers’ dependency on migrant workers makes them vulnerable should migration flows to rural areas be subject to change. Rural economies may be placed at risk if migration patterns change.

Migration also has the potential to impact on public services in a number of ways. The geographical dispersal of recent immigrant groups, especially into areas that have not seen much immigration in the past, may place particular strains in particular parts of the UK. Where resource allocation and delivery capacity cannot respond quickly, local services may be placed under pressure.

Available files

draft agenda (subject to change).