Councils accused of under-estimating migration benefits

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Councils have under-estimated the economic benefits of migrants to local economies, according to a report from a leading centre-left thinktank.

The new study, due to be published by the Institute for Public Policy and Research in September, argues that migrants' positive contributions to local economies tends to be neglected amidst the focus on the impact on public services.

It says that employers and local economies are not reaping the full benefit from migraton because many migrants are staying for short periods instead of settling in the UK. 

It says councils and central government should do more to attract and retain migrants and develop local strategies to maximize benefits for local businesses.

It also recommends that councils should develop local strategies to ensure that indigenous workers' wages and job opportunities are not damaged.

Laura Chappell, ippr research fellow, said: "Political leaders also need to sharpen their narrative about migration, particularly on the longer-term affects on local areas."

'Your Place or Mine' is the first in a series of report the ippr will be producing on the economics of migration.