Money & Macro Talks How firms lobby for low-skilled immigration. Prof. Alan Manning
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Apr 10, 2026 Alan Manning, LSE economics professor and immigration specialist, explains why migration policy is so tricky. He unpacks myths about immigration, the effects of zero net migration, and differences between refugees and work migrants. He explores employer lobbying, tied visas and monopsony, points-based alternatives, and practical ways to manage high- and low-skilled flows.
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Factory Owner Said Migrants Took Overtime
- Alan Manning visited a flower bouquet factory where migrants volunteered for overtime and Sundays while locals declined.
- The owner said migrants wanted the extra money, showing employers prefer more motivated migrant workers.
Two Divergent Migration Models And The Trade Off
- Two fundamental migration models exist: low-rights high-numbers (Gulf/Dubai) or high-rights lower-numbers (European social democracy).
- Trying to mix the two without clear choice creates long-term problems.
Push Back On Employer Lobbying For Low Wage Visas
- Take a tougher line on business lobbying for low-wage migrant access to avoid entrenching low-productivity sectors.
- Prioritise high-productivity, high-wage transformation rather than protecting struggling low-wage firms with migrants.
