The Express is wrong: Half of all new jobs have gone to UK citizens

Additional reporting by Left Foot Forward’s Nicola Smith, senior policy officer at the TUC

Today the Express (using data published by the Spectator) has claimed 98 per cent of jobs created in the UK since 1997 been taken by migrant workers, leading the Conservatives to state that:

“British workers [are] in a worse position than when Labour took office 13 years ago.”

This conclusion is significantly wrong.

An analysis (figures can be downloaded from the ONS) that considers all jobs in the UK, and is broken down by nationality not by country of birth, shows a very different picture – finding that 50.3 per cent of the jobs created since 1997 have been taken by UK nationals (around 1,375,000 positions), and that employment rates for UK nationals remain at the same level they were in 1997 – despite the sharpest global downturn since the 1920s.

In contrast, the analysis that has been used by the Spectator:

• Conflates “non-UK born” with “nationality” – there are many (around 1,432,000) non-UK born British nationals, excluding them from the analysis is to exclude five per cent of the UK labour force.

• Excludes UK workers over state pension age – a method that excludes 1,419,000 workers. There is no good reason for omitting this group – they are included in ONS’s widely reported analysis of total employment levels in the UK and comprise around five per cent of the workforce.

• Excludes public sector jobs – meaning that around 20 per cent of the jobs (public sector jobs excluding those in financial corporations) in the entire UK economy are discounted.

The proportion of people in the UK population who were born in other countries has been rising consistently since the 1950s – as new migrant communities settle and their children enter the labour market the proportion of non-UK born British nationals will continue to increase. And as the Home Office acknowledge, the UK has some specific skills shortages – which mean that while it is vital to continue to enable workers in the UK to build their skills, it is also economically sensible to enable non-UK nationals to work in the UK.

Since 1997, unemployment rates have reached some of their lowest levels for 30 years, and even after the recession they remain low relative to other recent downturns. Research has consistently shown that, overall, migration has increased the number of jobs in the UK and raised levels of pay (although the effects may be very small).

It is absolutely true that are important policy discussions to be had about how the next Government can continue to improve skill levels among workers in the UK (new rights to request time off to train are the most recent in a long line of Labour measures) and the role that strategic industrial strategy should play in increasing good quality private sector jobs. There is also more that can be done to support communities experiencing sudden large-scale change as a result of migration. But a sensible debate about immigration needs to deal with the facts, and should not distort figures to make political points.

http://twitter.com/euromove/status/11823599264 European Movement

RT @leftfootfwd: The Express is wrong: Half of all new jobs have gone to UK citizens, NOT 2% as they claim: http://is.gd/bk4u3
http://twitter.com/aaronjohnpeters/status/11823719849 aaron peters

http://bit.ly/bdwT9p The Right Wing Press lies on jobs
http://twitter.com/paulwmk/status/11824008137 paulwmk

RT @leftfootfwd: The Express is wrong: Half of all new jobs have gone to UK citizens http://is.gd/bk4u3
http://twitter.com/james_macintyre/status/11824055649 James Macintyre

RT @wdjstraw: Why @frasernels is wrong. Half of all new jobs have gone to UK citizens, NOT 2% as claimed http://is.gd/bk4u3 (via @leftfo …
http://twitter.com/karinab/status/11824098673 karina brisby

RT @leftfootfwd: The Express is wrong: Half of all new jobs have gone to UK citizens, NOT 2% as they claim: http://is.gd/bk4u3
http://twitter.com/paulsandars/status/11824515874 Paul Sandars

RT @paulwmk: RT @leftfootfwd: The Express is wrong: Half of all new jobs have gone to UK citizens http://is.gd/bk4u3
http://twitter.com/ladyblahblahs/status/11824591293 Jo Austin

RT @leftfootfwd: The Express is wrong: Half of all new jobs have gone to UK citizens, NOT 2% as they claim: http://is.gd/bk4u3
http://twitter.com/bat020/status/11824671564 bat020

good piece at @leftfootfwd debunking the latest immigration scare http://is.gd/bk4u3
http://twitter.com/gemmatumelty/status/11824771413 gemma tumelty

RT @touchstoneblog: Nicola and Richard write for @leftfootfwd: The Express is wrong: 1/2 of all new jobs have gone to UK citizens, NOT 2%: http://is.gd/bk4u3
http://twitter.com/twoseventwo/status/11824890707 Two Seven Two

RT @leftfootfwd: @badjournalism One for you to RT? Express is wrong: Half of all new jobs have gone to UK citizens, NOT 2% as they claim: http://is.gd/bk4u3
http://twitter.com/azulbuho/status/11825041557 azulbuho

RT @bat020: good piece at @leftfootfwd debunking the latest immigration scare http://is.gd/bk4u3
http://twitter.com/demsoc/status/11825231180 Democratic Society

RT @anthonypainter: .@frasernels and Spectator guilty of sleight of hand on new jobs and immigration. http://is.gd/bk4u3 (via @leftfootfwd)
http://twitter.com/jamescowley/status/11825638840 James Cowley

RT @leftfootfwd: The Express is wrong: Half of all new jobs have gone to UK citizens http://is.gd/bk4u3 @BBCLauraK @ChrisMasonBBC
http://twitter.com/robbi_robbi/status/11825645952 Rob Holdsworth

RT @leftfootfwd: The Express is wrong: Half of all new jobs have gone to UK citizens, NOT 2% as they claim: http://is.gd/bk4u3
http://twitter.com/martininma/status/11825649049 Martin Vowles

RT @sophiaparker: RT @leftfootfwd Express is wrong: Half of all new jobs gone to UK citizens, NOT 2% as they claim: http://is.gd/bk4u3 & …
http://twitter.com/sophiaparker/status/11823749292 sophiaparker

RT @leftfootfwd Express is wrong: Half of all new jobs gone to UK citizens, NOT 2% as they claim: http://is.gd/bk4u3 <- great analysis
http://twitter.com/adambienkov/status/11823815451 Adam Bienkov

RT @leftfootfwd: The Express is wrong: Half of all new jobs have gone to UK citizens http://is.gd/bk4u3
topsy_top20k_en

The Express is wrong: Half of all new jobs have gone to UK citizens, NOT 2% as they claim: http://is.gd/bk4u3
http://twitter.com/realstevewhite/status/11826633775 steve white

RT @AdamBienkov: RT @leftfootfwd: The Express is wrong: Half of all new jobs have gone to UK citizens http://is.gd/bk4u3
http://twitter.com/wdjstraw/status/11823875562 Will Straw

Why @frasernels is wrong. Half of all new jobs have gone to UK citizens, NOT 2% as claimed http://is.gd/bk4u3 (via @leftfootfwd)
http://twitter.com/odbe34/status/11823916514 Owain Gardner

RT @wdjstraw: Why @frasernels is wrong. Half of all new jobs have gone to UK citizens, NOT 2% as claimed http://is.gd/bk4u3 (via @leftfo …
http://twitter.com/touchstoneblog/status/11823938086 ToUChstone blog

Nicola and Richard write for @leftfootfwd: The Express is wrong: 1/2 of all new jobs have gone to UK citizens, NOT 2%: http://is.gd/bk4u3
http://twitter.com/touchstoneblog/status/11823938086 ToUChstone blog

Nicola and Richard write for @leftfootfwd: The Express is wrong: 1/2 of all new jobs have gone to UK citizens, NOT 2%: http://is.gd/bk4u3
http://twitter.com/clairee_french/status/11823940981 Claire French

RT @wdjstraw: Why @frasernels is wrong. Half of all new jobs have gone to UK citizens, NOT 2% as claimed http://is.gd/bk4u3 (via @leftfo …
http://twitter.com/johninnit/status/11823987156 John

RT @leftfootfwd: The Express is wrong: Half of all new jobs have gone to UK citizens, NOT 2% as they claim: http://is.gd/bk4u3
http://twitter.com/johninnit/status/11823987156 John

RT @leftfootfwd: The Express is wrong: Half of all new jobs have gone to UK citizens, NOT 2% as they claim: http://is.gd/bk4u3
http://twitter.com/paulwmk/status/11824008137 paulwmk

RT @leftfootfwd: The Express is wrong: Half of all new jobs have gone to UK citizens http://is.gd/bk4u3
http://twitter.com/trishdever/status/11824020603 Trish Dever

RT @AdamBienkov: RT @leftfootfwd: The Express is wrong: Half of all new jobs have gone to UK citizens http://is.gd/bk4u3
http://enemiesofreason.co.uk Anton Vowl

Good analysis. It’s worth pointing out this is a story that keeps coming back for more. The Express originally did it with the headline MIGRANTS TAKE ALL NEW JOBS, with the word ALL in red letters. That became MIGRANTS TAKE 85% OF ALL NEW JOBS, but it was back to ALL when the Star said THEY’VE TAKEN ALL OUR JOBS, with the big red all coming back again.
http://twitter.com/anthonypainter/status/11824144729 Anthony Painter

.@frasernels and Spectator guilty of sleight of hand on new jobs and immigration. http://is.gd/bk4u3 (via @leftfootfwd)
http://twitter.com/cathelliott/status/11824144803 CathElliott

RT @AdamBienkov: RT @leftfootfwd: The Express is wrong: Half of all new jobs have gone to UK citizens http://is.gd/bk4u3
http://twitter.com/sohopolitico/status/11824218235 Soho Politico

Oi, Express & Speccie: there's a party for ppl who don't count foreign-born ppl as UK citizens. It ain't the Tories. http://is.gd/bk4u3
http://twitter.com/anthonypainter/status/11824226198 Anthony Painter

The @leftfootfwd analysis has the added advantage of being comprehensible cf Phil Woolas on the Daily Politics. http://bit.ly/aEZTSG
http://twitter.com/neilpooran/status/11824247988 Neil Pooran

RT @leftfootfwd: The Express is wrong: Half of all new jobs have gone to UK citizens, NOT 2% as they claim: http://is.gd/bk4u3
http://twitter.com/antigherkin/status/11824259306 Lisa Firth

RT @wdjstraw: Why @frasernels is wrong. Half of all new jobs have gone to UK citizens, NOT 2% as claimed http://is.gd/bk4u3 (via @leftfo …
http://twitter.com/gselmer/status/11824269181 George Selmer

The Express is wrong: 1/2 of all new jobs have gone to UK citizens, NOT 2%: http://is.gd/bk4u3 (via @touchstoneblog & @leftfootfwd)
http://twitter.com/oxfordbloo/status/11824458766 Clare Cochrane

RT @CathElliott: RT @AdamBienkov: RT @leftfootfwd: The Express is wrong: Half of all new jobs have gone to UK citizens http://is.gd/bk4u3
http://twitter.com/shamikdas/status/11824520407 Shamik Das

RT @wdjstraw: Why @frasernels is wrong; RT @@leftfootfwd: 50% of all new jobs have gone to UK citizens, NOT 2% as claimed http://is.gd/bk4u3
http://twitter.com/paulstpancras/status/11824532522 paulstpancras

RT @wdjstraw: Why @frasernels is wrong. Half all new jobs have gone to UK citizens, NOT 2% as claimed http://is.gd/bk4u3 (via @leftfootfwd
http://twitter.com/tucnews/status/11824531785 TUC news

RT @touchstoneblog: Nicola & Richard on @leftfootfwd: Express is wrong: 1/2 new jobs have gone to UK citizens, NOT 2%: http://is.gd/bk4u3
http://twitter.com/shoes_bags/status/11827423356 Shamaila

RT @leftfootfwd: The Express is wrong: Half of all new jobs have gone to UK citizens, NOT 2% as they claim: http://is.gd/bk4u3
http://twitter.com/gemmatumelty/status/11824771413 gemma tumelty

RT @touchstoneblog: Nicola and Richard write for @leftfootfwd: The Express is wrong: 1/2 of all new jobs have gone to UK citizens, NOT 2%: http://is.gd/bk4u3
http://twitter.com/gemmatumelty/status/11824771413 gemma tumelty

RT @touchstoneblog: Nicola and Richard write for @leftfootfwd: The Express is wrong: 1/2 of all new jobs have gone to UK citizens, NOT 2%: http://is.gd/bk4u3
http://twitter.com/robkh/status/11827634383 Rob Hale

RT @leftfootfwd: The Express is wrong: Half of all new jobs have gone to UK citizens, NOT 2% as they claim: http://is.gd/bk4u3
http://twitter.com/twoseventwo/status/11824890707 Two Seven Two

RT @leftfootfwd: @badjournalism One for you to RT? Express is wrong: Half of all new jobs have gone to UK citizens, NOT 2% as they claim: http://is.gd/bk4u3
http://twitter.com/red_nick/status/11824893963 Nicolas Redfern

RT @leftfootfwd: @badjournalism One for you to RT? Express is wrong: Half of all new jobs have gone to UK citizens, NOT 2% as they claim: http://is.gd/bk4u3
http://twitter.com/ns_mehdihasan/status/11824974001 Mehdi Hasan

RT @wdjstraw: Why @frasernels is wrong. Half of all new jobs have gone to UK citizens, NOT 2% as claimed http://is.gd/bk4u3 (via @leftfo …
http://twitter.com/oliverheath/status/11824987020 Oliver Heath

RT @wdjstraw: Why @frasernels is wrong. Half of all new jobs have gone to UK citizens, NOT 2% as claimed http://is.gd/bk4u3 (via @leftfo …
http://twitter.com/andybud/status/11827923385 Andrew Budkiewicz

RT @leftfootfwd: The Express is wrong: Half of all new jobs have gone to UK citizens, NOT 2% as they claim: http://is.gd/bk4u3
http://twitter.com/lucy_perkins/status/11828132847 Lucy Perkins

RT @leftfootfwd: The Express is wrong: Half of all new jobs have gone to UK citizens, NOT 2% as they claim: http://is.gd/bk4u3
http://twitter.com/strongmisgiving/status/11825414566 Ross McCleary

RT @leftfootfwd The Express is wrong: Half of all new jobs have gone to UK citizens, NOT 2% as they claim: http://is.gd/bk4u3
http://www.touchstoneblog.org.uk/2010/04/migrant-workers-do-the-daily-express-stats-stand-up/ Migrant workers – do the Daily Express stats stand up? | ToUChstone blog: A public policy blog from the TUC

[...] on Left Foot Forward, Richard and Nicola have undertaken an analysis of ONS statistics, refuting the Daily Express’ claim today that 98% of new jobs in the UK have been taken by [...]
http://twitter.com/ericthefishking/status/11825588582 Eric Fish

RT @bat020 good piece at @leftfootfwd debunking the latest immigration scare http://is.gd/bk4u3
http://twitter.com/richardhebditch/status/11825591823 Richard Hebditch

RT @leftfootfwd: The Express is wrong: Half of all new jobs have gone to UK citizens, NOT 2% as they claim: http://is.gd/bk4u3
http://twitter.com/paulstpancras/status/11825602268 paulstpancras

@bbc5live @nickyaacampbell @shelaghfoggerty See http://is.gd/bk4u3 via @leftfootfwd I hope you'll spend 4 hours 6am to 10am correcting this.
http://twitter.com/fsmidnightdisco/status/11828728742 Francesca H

RT @leftfootfwd: The Express is wrong: Half of all new jobs have gone to UK citizens, NOT 2% as they claim: http://is.gd/bk4u3
http://twitter.com/gregeden/status/11829005351 Greg Eden

RT @leftfootfwd: The Express is wrong: Half of all new jobs have gone to UK citizens, NOT 2% as they claim: http://is.gd/bk4u3
http://twitter.com/northlondonlynn/status/11826284648 Lynn Stephenson

RT @Johninnit RT @leftfootfwd: The Express is wrong: Half of all new jobs have gone to UK citizens, NOT 2% as they claim: http://is.gd/bk4u3
http://twitter.com/5chincrack/status/11829137719 5 Chinese Crackers

RT @uponnothing: RT @leftfootfwd: The Express is wrong: Half of all new jobs have gone to UK citizens, NOT 2% as they claim: http://is.gd/bk4u3
http://twitter.com/jasonpaulgrant/status/11829399250 Jason Grant

RT @leftfootfwd: The Express is wrong: Half of all new jobs have gone to UK citizens http://is.gd/bk4u3
http://twitter.com/oxygum/status/11829661600 simon trott

RT @uponnothing: RT @leftfootfwd: The Express is wrong: Half of all new jobs have gone to UK citizens, NOT 2% as they claim: http://is.gd/bk4u3
http://twitter.com/raggieroo/status/11829679300 Rachel Johnson

RT @Ian_Mundy: @raggieroo Your suspicions confirmed, who'd 'ave thunk it?! http://is.gd/bk4u3 (via @badjournalism @leftfootforward)
http://twitter.com/badjournalism/status/11827058670 Bad Journalism

RT @leftfootfwd: The Express is wrong: Half of all new jobs have gone to UK citizens, NOT 2% as they claim: http://is.gd/bk4u3
http://twitter.com/jenweb/status/11827102775 jenweb

RT @leftfootfwd: The Express is wrong: Half of all new jobs have gone to UK citizens, NOT 2% as they claim: http://is.gd/bk4u3
http://twitter.com/michaelrundle/status/11827105091 Michael Rundle

RT @leftfootfwd: The Express is wrong: Half of all new jobs have gone to UK citizens, NOT 2% as they claim: http://is.gd/bk4u3
http://twitter.com/raggieroo/status/11827123417 Rachel Johnson

RT @leftfootfwd: The Express is wrong: Half of all new jobs have gone to UK citizens, NOT 2% as they claim: http://is.gd/bk4u3
http://twitter.com/godalminged/status/11829975834 Joanna Till

RT @leftfootfwd: The Express is wrong: Half of all new jobs have gone to UK citizens, NOT 2% as they claim: http://is.gd/bk4u3
http://twitter.com/ajscroxton/status/11827198009 Alex Scroxton

RT @leftfootfwd: The Express is wrong: Half of all new jobs have gone to UK citizens, NOT 2% as they claim: http://is.gd/bk4u3
http://twitter.com/merseymal/status/11827204835 Mal Franks

RT @leftfootfwd: The Express is wrong: Half of all new jobs have gone to UK citizens, NOT 2% as they claim: http://is.gd/bk4u3
http://twitter.com/concettasidoti/status/11827245775 Concetta Sidoti

RT @leftfootfwd: The Express is wrong: Half of all new jobs have gone to UK citizens, NOT 2% as they claim: http://is.gd/bk4u3
http://twitter.com/mrscharliekirby/status/11827288012 Charlie Kirby

RT @leftfootfwd: The Express is wrong: Half of all new jobs have gone to UK citizens, NOT 2% as they claim: http://is.gd/bk4u3
http://twitter.com/jennytablina/status/11827290072 Rebecca Gunn

RT @leftfootfwd: The Express is wrong: Half of all new jobs have gone to UK citizens, NOT 2% as they claim: http://is.gd/bk4u3
http://twitter.com/shellyasquith/status/11827396210 Shelly Asquith

RT @leftfootfwd: The Express is wrong: Half of all new jobs have gone to UK citizens, NOT 2% as they claim: http://is.gd/bk4u3
http://twitter.com/somethingforjoe/status/11827513486 David Bell

RT @paulstpancras: @bbc5live @nickyaacampbell @shelaghfoggerty See http://is.gd/bk4u3 via @leftfootfwd I hope you'll spend 4 hours 6am t …
http://twitter.com/directorjoeshaw/status/11827568592 Joe Shaw

RT @leftfootfwd: The Express is wrong: Half of all new jobs have gone to UK citizens, NOT 2% as they claim: http://is.gd/bk4u3
http://twitter.com/if0x/status/11827674035 if0x

RT @leftfootfwd: The Express is wrong: Half of all new jobs have gone to UK citizens, NOT 2% as they claim: http://is.gd/bk4u3
http://twitter.com/mrnorthice/status/11830529096 Steve Wins

RT @leftfootfwd: The Express is wrong: Half of all new jobs have gone to UK citizens, NOT 2% as they claim: http://is.gd/bk4u3
http://twitter.com/andyjlockley/status/11827883054 Andy Lockley

RT @leftfootfwd: The Express is wrong: Half of all new jobs have gone to UK citizens, NOT 2% as they claim: http://is.gd/bk4u3
http://twitter.com/hardfur/status/11827905112 Jack Wilson

RT @leftfootfwd: The Express is wrong: Half of all new jobs have gone to UK citizens, NOT 2% as they claim: http://is.gd/bk4u3
http://twitter.com/jonnylittlewood/status/11828000090 Jonny Littlewood

RT @leftfootfwd: The Express is wrong: Half of all new jobs have gone to UK citizens, NOT 2% as they claim: http://is.gd/bk4u3
IanB

Lies, damn lies and statistics. LFF is wrong too: http://www.spectator.co.uk/coffeehouse/5898483/woolas-on-the-rack.thtml
http://twitter.com/ian_mundy/status/11828242719 Ian Mundy

@raggieroo Your suspicions confirmed, who'd 'ave thunk it?! http://is.gd/bk4u3 (via @badjournalism @leftfootforward)
http://twitter.com/gabriellenyc/status/11828492954 GabrielleLainePeters

RT @badjournalism – Express is wrong: Half of all new jobs have gone to UK citizens, NOT 2% as they claim: http://is.gd/bk4u3 #ukelection
http://twitter.com/nicolafrodsham/status/11831302391 Nicola Frodsham

RT @leftfootfwd: The Express is wrong: Half of all new jobs have gone to UK citizens, NOT 2% as they claim: http://is.gd/bk4u3
http://twitter.com/tess1959/status/11831318094 Teresa

RT @psbook: RT @pickledpolitics: Is Spectator's @frasernels going to admit he got it wrong on jobs for UK citizens? http://bit.ly/caRRj0
http://twitter.com/uponnothing/status/11828622252 Kevin Arscott

RT @leftfootfwd: The Express is wrong: Half of all new jobs have gone to UK citizens, NOT 2% as they claim: http://is.gd/bk4u3
http://twitter.com/drjasonabbott/status/11831530119 DrJasonAbbott

#ukelection #ge2010 Stop Tory lies on immigration and jobs http://tinyurl.com/ybfhoxj
http://twitter.com/pickledpolitics/status/11828773379 sunny hundal

Is Spectator's @frasernels going to admit he got it wrong on jobs for UK citizens? http://bit.ly/caRRj0
http://twitter.com/marcusjdl/status/11828910630 Marcus

according to the Daily Mail, 98% of the jobs created since 1997 have gone to "foreigners". Or have they?: RT @leftfootfwd http://is.gd/bk4u3
http://twitter.com/jameswest/status/11831727798 James West

RT @leftfootfwd: The Express is wrong: Half of all new jobs have gone to UK citizens, NOT 2% as they claim: http://is.gd/bk4u3
http://twitter.com/psbook/status/11829262140 Political Scrapbook

RT @pickledpolitics: Is Spectator's @frasernels going to admit he got it wrong on jobs for UK citizens? http://bit.ly/caRRj0
http://twitter.com/mitchellst/status/11829333965 Mitchell Stirling

As I worked out last night http://is.gd/bk4u3 Express / Mail and @FraserNels wrong.
http://bestblogs.labourhome.org/2010/04/08/the-express-is-wrong-half-of-all-new-jobs-have-gone-to-uk-citizens/ The Express is wrong: Half of all new jobs have gone to UK citizens « The best Labour blogs

[...] More… [...]
http://twitter.com/ericthefishking/status/11829428707 Eric Fish

RT @leftfootfwd: Half of all new jobs have gone to UK citizens, NOT 2% http://is.gd/bk4u3
< needs repeating. Wirral PPCs over to you.
http://www.philippelegrain.com Philippe Legrain

Why The Express and Spectator are misleading on immigration and jobs. Read my blog post at http://www.philippelegrain.com/why-the-express-and-spectator-are-misleading-on-immigration-and-jobs/
Will Straw

IanB – We’re not, as it happens. Fraser Nelson is still only looking at private sector workers. We’re vindicated by this: http://bit.ly/bxKMy6
http://twitter.com/drjasonabbott/status/11831509856 DrJasonAbbott

combat Tory lies on immigration and jobs http://tinyurl.com/ybfhoxj
http://twitter.com/slipshodsibyl/status/11834946251 Katie

RT @leftfootfwd: The Express is wrong: Half of all new jobs have gone to UK citizens, NOT 2% as they claim: http://is.gd/bk4u3
http://www.touchstoneblog.org.uk Nicola Smith

Hi Ian B,

The analysis that we’ve done above shows that if you include employed men aged 65+ and employed women aged 60+ then the proportions fall (as FullFact show http://fullfact.org/blogdetail/?id=16&sel=blog) to 72.4 per cent. If you include people who were not born here but who are UK citizens the percentage falls again, as our analysis shows above and as Fraser Nelson has acknowledged.

Nicola
http://twitter.com/catejones84/status/11834765014 Catherine Jones

RT @leftfootfwd: The Express is wrong: Half of all new jobs have gone to UK citizens, NOT 2% as they claim: http://is.gd/bk4u3
http://twitter.com/bat020/status/11837825354 bat020

@row78 see useful rebuttal here: http://is.gd/bk4u3
http://twitter.com/lpxmusic/status/11840966252 Leigh O’Gorman

RT @leftfootfwd: The Express is wrong: Half of all new jobs have gone to UK citizens, NOT 2% as they claim: http://is.gd/bk4u3
http://twitter.com/ruaridhtvo/status/11841586746 Ruaridh Law

RT @leftfootfwd: The Express is wrong: Half of all new jobs have gone to UK citizens, NOT 2% as they claim: http://is.gd/bk4u3
@lpu73

The conflation of “non-UK born” with nationality is one almost always made in alarmist articles about relative British/non-British birth rates as well. Very dishonest.
http://twitter.com/nickbatley/status/11845443725 Nick Batley

RT @leftfootfwd: The Express is wrong: Half of all new jobs have gone to UK citizens, NOT 2% as they claim: http://is.gd/bk4u3
http://twitter.com/crutchley/status/11845458132 David Couch

RT @leftfootfwd: The Express is wrong: Half of all new jobs have gone to UK citizens, NOT 2% as they claim: http://is.gd/bk4u3
http://twitter.com/eyestothemoon/status/11845503829 Jess

RT @leftfootfwd: The Express is wrong: Half of all new jobs have gone to UK citizens, NOT 2% as they claim: http://is.gd/bk4u3
http://twitter.com/evidencematters/status/11845834788 Evidence Matters

@graemearcher Is there rebuttal of this? Half of new jobs have gone to UK citizens, NOT 2% as they claim: http://is.gd/bk4u3 Same figs in FN
http://twitter.com/johannhari101/status/11845384597 Johann Hari

RT @leftfootfwd: The Express is wrong: Half of all new jobs have gone to UK citizens, NOT 2% as they claim: http://is.gd/bk4u3
http://twitter.com/sherenejose/status/11850337483 sherenejose

RT @johannhari101: RT @leftfootfwd The Express is wrong: 1/2 of all new jobs hv gone to UK citizens, NOT 2% as they claim http://is.gd/bk4u3
http://twitter.com/janeayres/status/11852225462 Jane Ayres

RT @leftfootfwd: The Express is wrong: Half of all new jobs have gone to UK citizens, NOT 2% as they claim: http://is.gd/bk4u3
http://twitter.com/elainesk/status/11852556852 Elaine S

RT @Uklabourparty: The Express is wrong: 50% of all new jobs have gone to UK citizens, NOT 2% as Tory claim: http://is.gd/bk4u3#labourdoorstep #votelabour RT
http://twitter.com/donaldearl/status/11852948632 Donald Earl

RT @Uklabourparty: The Express is wrong: 50% of all new jobs have gone to UK citizens, NOT 2% as Tory claim: http://is.gd/bk4u3#labourdoorstep #votelabour RT
http://twitter.com/mcgazz/status/11853726940 McGazz

RT @leftfootfwd: The Express is wrong: Half of all new jobs have gone to UK citizens, NOT 2% as they claim: http://is.gd/bk4u3
John77

I should hate to say that The Express is right about anything but your link to the ONS says that you are talking complete and utter bullshit. The only data that can be read from it says that since 2002 employment of UK citizens has fallen while that of non-UK citizens has gone up by over 0.9 million.
Can you read?
http://twitter.com/uklabourparty/status/11852420734 UK Labour Party

The Express is wrong: 50% of all new jobs have gone to UK citizens, NOT 2% as Tory claim: http://is.gd/bk4u3#labourdoorstep #votelabour RT
http://twitter.com/robertsharp59/status/11871163360 robertsharp59

RT @leftfootfwd: The Express is wrong: Half of all new jobs have gone to UK citizens, NOT 2% as they claim: http://is.gd/bk4u3
http://twitter.com/jbevershed/status/11872249171 James Evershed

RT @leftfootfwd: The Express is wrong: Half of all new jobs have gone to UK citizens, NOT 2% as they claim: http://is.gd/bk4u3
http://www.touchstoneblog.org.uk Nicola Smith

Dear John 77 – the ONS link shows that in the April – June quarter of 1997 there were 25,478,000 British nationals in employment and in the October – December quarter of 2009 there were 26,691,000 British nationals in employment. Thank you for your enquiry – I can read.

Nicola
http://twitter.com/anthonydbuckley/status/11876212121 Anthony D Buckley

The Express really is a disgrace http://www.leftfootforward.org/2010/04/the-express-is-wrong-half-of-all-new-jobs-have-gone-to-uk-citizens/
John Handley

What is important is that it is the employers (those who can do no wrong in the eyes of the Daily Express and others) who have a choice to employ British or Foriegn workers – they choose foriegn workers so they can exploit them more easily.
http://twitter.com/iankmsmith/status/11881332153 Ian Smith

RT @leftfootfwd: The Express is wrong: Half of all new jobs have gone to UK citizens http://is.gd/bk4u3
http://twitter.com/iankmsmith/status/11881306720 Ian Smith

RT @leftfootfwd: The Express is wrong: Half of all new jobs have gone to UK citizens http://is.gd/bk4u3
http://twitter.com/againstcameron/status/11888282409 Phil McNally

RT @leftfootfwd: The Express is wrong: Half of all new jobs have gone to UK citizens, NOT 2% as they claim: http://is.gd/bk4u3
Mr. Sensible

What do we expect from the Daily Express…
http://twitter.com/opemipok/status/11891258141 Opemipo Kehinde

@atika_cnn A reply to your post on "foreign workers" http://bit.ly/aEZTSG (Leftfootforward)
Michael Fox

Wow!!! Only 50%. Well that’s OK then. For a moment there I thought British workers were in trouble there.
http://thoughcowardsflinch.com/2010/04/09/and-so-it-begins-the-bbcs-economic-comment-of-choice-is-the-bnp/ And so it begins: the BBC’s economic comment of choice is the BNP « Though Cowards Flinch

[...] story has quickly died of as the twist put on the figures by the Spectator has been thoroughly debunked, but yesterday it was being portrayed by the Five Lives reporter as very important development in [...]
http://www.idf50.co.uk/clubhouse/current-affairs-religion-politics/25724-92-new-jobs-go-migrants.html#post304609 ……..92% New Jobs Go To Migrants ?? – I don’t feel 50 Forums

[...] Interesting rebuttal… The Express is wrong: Half of all new jobs have gone to UK citizens | Left Foot Forward [...]
http://www.leftfootforward.org/2010/04/look-left-the-week-in-fast-forward-09-04-10/ Look Left – The Week in Fast Forward | Left Foot Forward

[...] Smith and Richard Excell’s rebuttal of the claim by the Express, Mail and Spectator that nearly all new jobs created since 1997 have [...]
John77

Nicola,
Glad to hear that – maybe next time you could provide a link to a site that supports your comments instead of one that appears to contradict them. The link gave me a site that showed 2002 figures but not 1997.
As more than one million immigrants were granted UK citizenship during that period your figures for the number of UK nationals in employment in the UK (an increase of 1.21m not 1.375m incidentally) does little, if anything, to contradict The Express.
http://twitter.com/quietzapple/status/11955645116 Quietzapple

RT @leftfootfwd: The Express is wrong: Half of all new jobs have gone to UK citizens, NOT 2% as they claim: http://is.gd/bk4u3
http://twitter.com/brylip/status/11956339501 Bry Lipscombe

RT @leftfootfwd: The Express is wrong: Half of all new jobs have gone to UK citizens, NOT 2% as they claim: http://is.gd/bk4u3
http://twitter.com/eddyanderson/status/11995542775 Eddy Anderson

RT @leftfootfwd: The Express is wrong: Half of all new jobs have gone to UK citizens http://is.gd/bk4u3
http://twitter.com/jtangco/status/11996374589 Joe Tangco

RT @leftfootfwd: The Express is wrong: Half of all new jobs have gone to UK citizens, NOT 2% as they claim: http://is.gd/bk4u3
http://twitter.com/tmstation/status/21007641820 nonnon

RT @leftfootfwd: The Express is wrong: Half of all new jobs have gone to UK citizens http://is.gd/bk4u3
http://twitter.com/lemon_tear/status/20971405680 jtangco

RT @leftfootfwd: The Express is wrong: Half of all new jobs have gone to UK citizens, NOT 2% as they claim: http://is.gd/bk4u3
http://www.touchstoneblog.org.uk Nicola Smith

John 77 – For you, and any others who are not familiar with ONS spreadsheets, to view the data back to 1997 you have to click on the button at the top of the page which is labelled ‘view historical data’. If you have problems with this I suggest getting in touch with ONS. Also apologies – I quoted you the data from Q2 1997, but we used Q1 in the published analysis – which does give you the 1.375 figure.

The reason we published this rebuttal was to show that the debate is far more complex than the Express story suggested – it is our view that sensitive debates need to be based on fact not on wilful misinterpretation of evidence. Your point about citizenship falls into the latter category – the presumption that anyone who became a citizen has taken a job away from someone who already has British nationality is wrong, as the evidence we link to in our analysis shows.

Michael Fox – Even the 50.3 per cent is more complex than the headline figure suggests. While we have used ‘number of jobs’ as shorthand for ‘levels of employment’ the reality is that there is large turnover of jobs at any one point in time. As older people leave the labour market, younger people enter, even if the number of jobs were to remain the same. As the demographics of the UK population have changed, it is inevitable that levels of migrant workers are increasing, even if employment rates for migrant and non-migrant populations were to remain constant. And importantly there are, as we state further down in our post, not just a set number of jobs to go around. Jobs that are filled by migrant workers generate more jobs in other areas of the economy – if we didn’t have migrants we would likely have fewer jobs for non-migrants. There are also severe skills shortages in some areas of the UK labour force, and it makes sense to encourage migrant workers to fill them if the alternative is for posts to go unfilled. Evidence shows that migrant workers make a significant contribution to the UK economy, and debate around immigration needs to start from this basis.
http://twitter.com/sophiebryce/status/12069439262 Sophie Bryce

RT @leftfootfwd: The Express is wrong: Half of all new jobs have gone to UK citizens, NOT 2% as they claim: http://is.gd/bk4u3
http://twitter.com/joydiversion/status/12070294800 James Phillips

RT @leftfootfwd: The Express is wrong: Half of all new jobs have gone to UK citizens, NOT 2% as they claim: http://is.gd/bk4u3
http://twitter.com/negger2099/status/1861159357 sophiebryce

Essa Ferrari e ou nao eh , muito SpeeRacer? http://bit.ly/jF6P
http://twitter.com/chrisplol/status/12507988449 Chris Paul

RT @wdjstraw: RT @FullFact: Compiling a round-up of the dodgiest claims of the campaign << Surely Speccie/Express on foreign jobs http://bit.ly/aEZTSG
http://twitter.com/wdjstraw/status/12507864951 Will Straw

RT @FullFact: Compiling a round-up of the dodgiest claims of the campaign << Surely Speccie/Express on foreign jobs http://bit.ly/aEZTSG
http://twitter.com/nickpthinking/status/12522011001 Nick Panayotopoulos

RT @leftfootfwd: The Express is wrong: Half of all new jobs have gone to UK citizens, NOT 2% as they claim: http://is.gd/bk4u3
http://twitter.com/paulo_archie_gp/status/17562795566 nickpthinking

RT @avtips: NASA releases new consolidated launch manifest with #STS133 to launch on Nov. 1 and #STS134 on Feb. 26, 2011. http://bit.ly/kkEct
http://twitter.com/beefqueen/status/13030730532 beefqueen

@Demonlee: Your statistics are wrong: ONS stats show that over half of jobs created have been take by UK nationals http://bit.ly/aEZTSG
http://twitter.com/jguridi/status/12964240775 beefqueen

RT @agirregabiria: Y el nuevo objetivo de “las SGAEs” es… Twitter http://bit.ly/dCn62H –> Acongojante.
http://twitter.com/wdjstraw/status/19245614991 Will Straw

@polleetickle For pity's sake, we debunked that myth months ago. You need to start believing what you read http://bit.ly/aEZTSG
http://twitter.com/fundcauses/status/14155102587 wdjstraw

あーあ言っちゃった RT @htmk73: "鉄拳原田「鉄拳の実写映画は糞、俺たちは一切監修できない酷い契約だった。あんなもん興味もないし何か聞かれても答えられないし答えたくも無い。」 : はちま起稿" http://bit.ly/9WL7X1
http://www.leftfootforward.org/2010/08/one-in-the-eye-for-nelson/ One in the eye for Nelson | Left Foot Forward

[...] may remember during the election campaign Left Foot Forward’s debunking of Fraser’s claim that “98 per cent of jobs created in the UK since 1997 been taken by [...]
http://www.leftfootforward.org/2010/11/at-it-again-now-ids-misleads-on-jobs-for-foreigners/ At it again: Now IDS is misleading on jobs for foreigners | Left Foot Forward

[...] April, Left Foot Forward forced Fraser Nelson to clarify his own claims about the number of jobs going to foreign-born individuals. [...]
http://enemiesofreason.co.uk/2010/04/08/the-lie-that-just-wont-die/ The lie that just won’t die « Enemies of Reason

[...] I am not the expert at statistics – you should mosey over to Five Chinese Crackers and Left Foot Forward to see exactly how these things are being confected and cherrypicked – but my point is on how these [...]
http://Polglish Dave

People are hardly going to work if they can live off benefits are they?
http://www.leftfootforward.org/2011/08/british-jobs-british-workers/ Fraser Nelson massages new figures to rehash old, discredited argument | Left Foot Forward

[...] out this exercise in April 2010 looking at Labour’s record, Left Foot Forward issued a response pointing out these self-same flaws in Nelson’s methodology. In a grovelling update to a [...]
http://www.leftfootforward.org/2011/10/what-the-express-hides-abou-charity-lottery/ Express plugs dirty Des’s dodgy lottery | Left Foot Forward

[...] why would the Express not mention that, given their history of hard-hitting ‘journalism‘? It may have something to do with the other companies owned by Northern and Shell, and its [...]