Migrants 'have boosted economy'

New research has claimed that rising immigration levels in the UK in the past ten years can be directly linked to improvements in the national economy.

The Migration myths: Employment, wages and labour report by the Work Foundation claims that despite media claims of lower wages and fewer job opportunities as a result of immigration, in fact the opposite is true, Personnel Today reports.

According to the foundation, interest rates are lower because of immigration and a national skills and labour deficit has been avoided in many sectors, such as marketing recruitment.

No evidence was found to support the theory that immigrant workers in the construction and hotel sectors are driving wages down, the website states.

However, the findings are in direct contrast to those of a recent House of Lords committee report, which claimed that immigration levels were at least partially responsible for rising house prices.

The Work Foundation is a non-profit association, which aims to improve the UK's economic performance and work-life quality for employees.