Selecting Wisely: Making managed migration work for Britain

This document forms ippr's response to the Home Office's consultation on proposed changes to the managed migration system, including the introduction of a new tiered, points-based selection procedure.

This paper pays particular attention to the issue of skills, looking at the characteristics of current migrants (the sectors in which they work and their contribution to the UK economy) and the extent to which Government proposals for a new managed migration system will address current and future labour market needs. The paper makes several recommendations that will enhance the proposed system, including merging Tiers 1 and 2, creating a unified points system, giving the proposed Advisory Board a remit beyond skills, and creating flexible and responsive low-skill migration channels.