Keir Starmer’s plan to make UK employers rely less on overseas workers and train home-grown talent may not lower net migration, says a University of Oxford report. Skill shortages are one reason firms hire migrants, but poor pay and work conditions make local workers hard to attract. Many recent migrants come on student or dependant visas, also competing for jobs. Starmer said last year, “If employers want to bring workers from overseas, then they must also invest in the skills of workers already in Britain.” But the Oxford Migration Observatory warns it’s hard for the government to enforce these changes. Their 13-page report finds, “Significant data gaps prevent a comprehensive overview of how migration is affecting the UK’s skills base.” They also note cutting work visas affects only a small part of migrant workers. Of 3.45 million non-EU visa holders with valid status in 2024, just 17% hold main work visas. Many arrive as dependants, students, or refugees, who also work. Ben Brindle, report co-author, said, “Employers could still hire these migrants.” The Home Office requires some employers to show plans for training UK workers before hiring migrants. Overseas recruitment for care workers ended in 2025, and visas for middle-skilled jobs like chefs and butchers were also stopped. A UK government spokesperson said, “Net migration is now at its lowest level in five years, down by more than two-thirds under this government.” They added that workforce reforms focus on skill training, fair pay, and conditions alongside migration policies.