The Workers Rights 
The city’s migrant workers have sparked a broader national debate, and it is clear from the streets of Portsmouth that it has manifested itself in the city. In response to a series of protests and counter-protest activities in the city, many of the natives are asking themselves whether migration has any impact on their employment or their salary. The short answer: It’s complex. A simple and honest analysis of the evidence — and its implications for those working in Portsmouth today.
Quick Facts
| Fact | Detail |
| Recent protest locations | The locations are on the commercial road, Guildhall Square, and Eastney Marina. |
| Protesters involved | ~500 anti-migration, ~300 counter-protesters |
| Key concern raised | Another category of migrants has local jobs and local housing, but is not local to the community. |
| What economists say | The migrant workers tend to occupy the unfilled positions rather than substitute for the workers already in place. |
| The sectors that are most dependent on migrant labour. | For example, in the fields of hospitality, social care, construction, and food processing. |
| In what way is the individual currently in the labour market? | Near-record low unemployment at the time of the protests |
| Impact on wages | Mixed in many areas/sectors, with a marginal impact in the majority of sectors. |
Why Portsmouth? Why Now?
The incident was instigated by a coachload of migrants who had crossed the Channel, landing in the city. The protests soon spiralled out of control, as hundreds of people rallied to block roads, shout slogans and call for a change in the country’s policies. There were counter-protests that featured Portsmouth residents stating that the city has always been diverse and multi-cultural.
The flags and chants are just a tactic to get the public’s attention; there is a serious economic fear behind the discussion, one that demands a simple, fact-based response.
Do Migrant Workers in Portsmouth Take Local Jobs?
This is the most prevalent worry, and it is important that it’s addressed head-on.
The evidence is against the theory that migrant workers in Portsmouth – or the UK – are taking jobs from British workers. The vast majority of economists have come to believe that migration is complementary, rather than competitive, in nature; that is, migrant workers are generally employed in places where it is difficult to recruit domestic workers, especially in industries that struggle to attract domestic labour.
These sectors encompass: In Portsmouth and across Hampshire:
- Social care and NHS support jobs – jobs that have been long vacated and not filled by people from within the country.
- Hospitality and catering are low-margin, flexible, labour-dependent businesses, which are seasonal.
- Construction and infrastructure – skilled trades where domestic pipelines have been stagnant
- These jobs involve food processing and distribution and have a high turnover rate; they are also physically demanding.
There’s a deeper issue to the idea of migrant workers supplanting British workers: many of these roles would not be filled if it were not for migrant labour.
Comparison: What the Protests Claim vs. What the Data Shows
| Claim | What Research Suggests |
| Immigrants perform local work. Immigrants fill local jobs. | Most fill vacancies locals don’t apply for |
| Wages are being depressed. | The effect is small and generally in low-skilled areas. |
| Migrants don’t contribute. | Migrant workers are not exempt from paying taxes and National Insurance. |
| The local people are not engaged. | The underlying problem is due to structural problems (pay, training) |
| The end of migration will eliminate unemployment. | No strong evidence to support this link |
What About Wages? Does Migrant Labour Hurt Local Pay?
Here’s where it becomes more complicated. There is some evidence that in some low-skilled industries, wages may be slightly depressed (usually where employers substitute migrant workers for non-migrant workers and consequently do not raise wages or conditions). It’s a fair worry.
But it is not the same story overall:
- When high-skilled migrant workers are added to the workforce, they boost productivity and wages for the rest.
- The pressure of low wages is more frequently associated with the lack of enforcement of labour standards rather than migration in and of itself.
- The rise in immigration should not be blamed for most of the wage stagnation in the UK over the last 20 years, as this is driven by the UK’s poor productivity growth, austerity and union power.
For Portsmouth local workers, it is better to fight for better wages by enforcing minimum wage laws, by engaging in collective bargaining, and by holding employers accountable — rather than by dinghy. Who comes, who goes, and who is left behind has a much smaller influence on the impact of immigration on UK workers than does the nature of domestic policy choices that are made.
What Local Workers Should Actually Be Asking
Honest answers to the questions raised about migrant workers and wages, and migration’s impact on the Portsmouth workforce and migration more generally, are more important than political slogans. Portsmouth has real challenges in the employment market, but not recent migration events. The situation of jobs in Portsmouth is tough, but there are complex reasons. The local workers are entitled to ask questions about:
- What is the reason for low wages in care, hospitality and logistics?
- What are the reasons behind the falling investment by employers in training and apprenticeships?
- Why is home buying becoming more expensive than earning a living in the area?
These are physical issues. They are not the creation of migrant workers / their removal would not cure them.
FAQs: Portsmouth Migrant Workers, Jobs and Wages
Do migrant workers take the place of British workers in Portsmouth?
Not as is usually said. The workers come as migrant workers mainly work in occupation categories which tend to have long-term vacancies, and where employers would struggle to recruit workers even without migration policies in place to incentivise them to do so.
Do migrant workers reduce wages for Portsmouth workers?
There is limited evidence of impact, primarily in low-skill industries. The increase in wages is not caused by migration, but rather by structural economic factors.
What jobs do migrant workers do in Portsmouth?
Healthcare, hospitality, cleaning, logistics and construction support roles – mostly employment with physically challenging or low-paying jobs that are prone to frequent changes.
Are there opportunities for local workers in Portsmouth if there were an issue of a shortage of migrant labour?
Yes — filling the critical jobs allows services to run and local businesses to thrive, helping the overall jobs market.
The Bottom Line
Protests against immigration and jobs to Portsmouth have put Portsmouth’s immigration and employment on the front pages of the national press. But local workers need more than just slogans; they need honest answers. The effect of migration on the local workforce is not obvious and is unevenly distributed: migrant labour helps fill gaps in the jobs market, has relatively little impact in almost all sectors, and is not to blame for the economic pressures that many in Portsmouth might experience.
The tougher discussion — salary, training, housing and employer responsibility — is the one that will impact Portsmouth workers.
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