Starmer Vows to End Dependence on Foreign Labour, Invest in Young People’s Skills

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has announced plans to prioritize supporting young people by investing in their skills, in an effort to reduce the country’s reliance on cheap overseas labour.

In a post on X, Starmer emphasized the need to end the UK’s “dependence on foreign labour” and instead focus on providing opportunities for young people to develop the skills they need to succeed.

The UK Prime Minister highlighted the stark reality that one in eight young people in the UK are not in education, employment, or training, while the country continues to rely heavily on foreign labour to fill staffing shortages.

Starmer’s plan aims to address this skills gap by investing in the skills and training needed to equip young people for the workforce.

Starmer’s announcement comes after the UK government’s Immigration White Paper, which emphasized the importance of better controlling immigration and regaining control over the system.

The paper included significant ideas for reducing the country’s reliance on foreign labour, including ending the employment of overseas care workers.

* Approximately 1,40,000 health and care visas were issued in 2023 to address staffing shortages in the care sector

* 39,000 of these visas were issued to Indian citizens

* One in eight young people in the UK are not in education, employment, or training

“For too long, Britain has been addicted to cheap overseas labour, while 1 in 8 of our own young people aren’t in education, employment or training. I’m putting our young people first, investing in skills they need and ending our dependence on foreign labour.” – UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer

Starmer’s plan has significant implications for the UK’s immigration policy and its approach to addressing staffing shortages in key sectors.

By investing in young people’s skills and reducing the country’s reliance on foreign labour, the UK aims to create a more sustainable and equitable workforce.

However, the plan also raises questions about the potential impact on the UK’s care sector, which has historically relied heavily on overseas workers to fill staffing shortages.