Labour market contributions of UK and foreign-born PhD holders: implications for visa, immigration and tax policy

Abstract

UK and foreign-born PhD holders make distinct but complementary contributions to the labour market, though their specific impacts on visa, immigration, and tax policy are varied and require careful consideration. While foreign-born PhDs face unique challenges related to visa routes, their contributions are critical for filling skills gaps, and policies like the Graduate visa and Skilled Worker Route are designed to attract them. Policies such as the Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) and "No Recourse to Public Funds" (NRPF) conditions directly affect foreign-born PhD holders financially, while tax policy at large aims to ensure both UK-born and foreign-born PhDs contribute to the economy through their earnings.