Although we have always had small numbers of incomers, over the centuries people in the island of Ireland became used to migration as a one way process, with thousands of people leaving for the New World, never to return.

In recent years in the south, labour shortages and dramatic economic expansion have attracted returning Irish exiles and people from other countries. In addition, links with other parts of the world have made Ireland a possible haven for people who feel forced to flee from their homes, or to seek economic security.

The Troubles and high unemployment insulated the north from these forces until very recently, but we now have a society that needs additional workers. Our declining birth rate is another factor in leading to job vacancies and skills shortages. Companies and public employers are now recruiting abroad more actively and, as more migrant workers come here they encourage others to follow.

For a very readable overview of the history of migration see Our people our times: A History of Northern Ireland’s Cultural Diversity. Produced by Northern Ireland Museums Council, see www.nimc.co.uk  for contact details.

Demographics
The 2001 census indicated that there were 26,600 people in Northern Ireland, including children, who were born outside the UK or the Irish Republic. (Note that this figure does not include people who were born in this country and are members of minority ethnic groups.) It is clear that numbers have expanded since then. People come here primarily for the same reason as our young people still leave: for better employment prospects and higher salaries.

Whereas earlier immigrants tended to come to our cities, the latest migrants are more widely spread. Most country towns and rural areas now have some foreign nationals working there. Most have found work in food factories, building-sites, hospitals and nursing homes, fishing and fish processing, shops, fast food outlets and restaurants.  

While we see growing numbers of immigrants, many come for a short time in the hope of improving their lives and then leave, just as many of our young people return. The numbers registering with GPs between 1992 and 2001 indicate that, during this period, 1300 more people left than arrived here (Migrant Workers in Northern Ireland, p 46). Accurate recent figures are difficult to obtain, but data from the Workers Registration Scheme shows that 18,300 people came into Northern Ireland in 2002/3 with a big increase to 26,900 in 2004/5. However, in the latter year there were still only 6,700 more people who came in than those who left. These figures include people who come and go, but there are some who make this their permanent home and so we have a gradually increasing number of minority ethnic people living among us from a rich diversity of backgrounds. It is reckoned that there are people living here from at least 120 different countries. 
For more figures see www.nisra.gov.uk 

Some reasons why accurate figures on migration are difficult to obtain:

• Foreign nationals resident in GB, who move here, will tend to be identified simply as GB residents.
• Some people may register for work here while still living in the Irish Republic
• There may be a time delay in people registering for work.
• People who register for work after a period away may be regarded either as a new person or as a ‘rejoiner’.
• People applying for National Insurance numbers or registering for work only cover some of the adult population.
• The numbers of undocumented people are impossible to assess accurately.
• There is no legal requirement for people to register when they enter or leave the country. 

Changing Patterns of Migration
Migrants who came to the United kingdom following the Second World War tended to come from countries in the British Commonwealth or other countries where there had been British or Irish influence. They were drawn by the expanding economy but also by their knowledge of the English language and were familiar to some degree with the local culture.

The first wave of more recent migrants here has included a substantial number of Portuguese speakers who have come here since 2001, to work in the food processing industry. At the same time, staff shortages in the health sector have led to people being recruited in the Philippines, South Asia and, to a lesser extent, Africa.

European Union enlargement in 2004 coincided with economic expansion here and people from Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Slovakia and Slovenia (the A8), and Cyprus and Malta, became entitled to come here and work. it is not easy to be precise about numbers, but between April 2004 and July 2005 applications for National Insurance numbers in Northern Ireland were received from 12,962 people from the A8 countries, with the largest number, 6,169, from Poland and the second highest, 3,013 from Lithuania. By the end of 2006 a total of 14,405 nationals had registered for work here.   

The Workers Registration Scheme figures for May 2004 - March 2005 show that 70% of new registered migrants were men, and most were in their twenties and thirties. the women were in the same age groups. For a similar period (April 2004 - March 2005) there were at least 10 applications for National Insurance numbers from people from each of 37 countries other than the Irish Republic. In the same period, around a quarter of workers requiring work permits were for jobs in the health service with the next greatest number, 20%, for the computer services industry.

The latest accession countries, Bulgaria and Romania (A2) have been treated differently from the A8 countries. Nationals from these countries are free to be here but need work permits for most forms of employment.  

Resources

Who’s who? Who’s here? pdf
An EMBRACE leaflet which provides an introduction to who has immigrated here and why. Produced Dec 2007

Working with Diversity  
This website gives a breakdown of the faith community statistics for NI from the 2001 census, along with other helpful information.