Immigration cut will hit economic recovery says Chamber

Friday 31 January 2014

Jersey’s Chamber of Commerce is concerned that States proposals to limit the number of immigrants to 325 per year won’t help the economy, and they aren't convinced it is even possible.

President of the business lobby group, James Filleul, said: “Are we really saying we can grow our financial services sector, build a new digital sector, employ the doctors, nurses and teachers we need...and still have enough room in that quota for the needs of construction, tourism, hospitality and retail – and we can do all that by halving the net annual immigration number achieved through the deepest recession in living memory?"

The States interim population policy for this year and next calls for a continuation of the 325 target which the Council of Ministers believe will maintain the Island’s working age population. The policy proposes to support migration only where local talent is not available. Jersey’s population has nearly doubled in size in the last sixty years and statistics show it’ll be 110,700 in 2035 if the Island averages a net migration of 325 people per year.

Mr Filleul said: “It’s not so much about the number of people as the skills they have. By focusing the debate on this number of 325 it means we’re not talking about the real issues, which are how to manage the obvious changes to the Island caused by a growing population – and grow it must if we are to support an ageing population."

Chamber is concerned the States +325 target hasn’t been achieved once in the four years since it was set – an average of 575 newcomers have been coming to Jersey every 12 months. They will be consulting its members on whether the figures can be achieved, and reporting back to the Population Office.