Labour migration policy post‐Brexit: The contested meaning of regulation by old and new actors

Abstract

The end of free movement of labour from the European Union represents an unprecedented form of reregulation of the UK labour market. This study explores how old and new actors engage with the sphere of migration, arguing that not only their economic interests but also different political agendas and meanings of regulation shape dialogue on migration regulation post-Brexit. Our findings suggest moving away from a unilateral, positive view of regulation in work and employment as well as to overcome any artificial distinction between the economic and the social implications of international migration.

Short‐term fix or remedy for market failure? Immigration policy as a distinct source of skills

“…The closure of international borders during the COVID-19 crisis prompted public debates about the reliability of immigration policy for addressing skills and workforce needs. Such issues have been especially pronounced in the United Kingdom by the reduced availability of labour from the European Union in the wake of Brexit, which has led to questions about the efficacy of training and other labour market institutions tasked with supplying skills (Alberti & Cutter, 2022). There have been similar debates in many other countries.…”