Are UK immigration policies sufficient to win the war for talent? Analyzing experiences of highly skilled immigrants

While undocumented migration is a highly debated issue in the political arena and contested among the public, the UK implements policies designed to attract talented immigrants in order to supplement their skilled labor deficit. As a result of these talent friendly policy changes, the UK ranks among the first ten OECD member states for attractiveness to newcomers (OECD,2023). Nevertheless, research published by the Global Talent Competitiveness Index indicates that the UK is losing its edge and has slipped from seventh to tenth most attractive destination for global talent (GTCI,2023). Forecasts show that by 2035 global migration trends will leave aging developed counties in a ‘war for talent’. Attracting and retaining talent is paramount for countries' economic development. Attracting skilled immigrants does not only depend on immigration policies but also successful integration and overall happiness newcomers find. This paper investigates the experiences of highly skilled immigrants in the UK to determine the impact of current policy frameworks. Understanding why the UK was chosen as a destination country and newcomer success and impediments to integration will provide insights to necessary policy changes.