Business leaders split over whether population policy will dampen economy

Wednesday 19 February 2014

The Chamber of Commerce has seen its biggest response in years to a survey on States plans to limit net migration to the Island. Most business leaders were sceptical the 325 inward migration target could be achieved, with half believing it could dampen the Island’s economic recovery.

The States interim population policy for this year and next calls for a continuation of the 325 target which the Council of Ministers believe will maintain the Island’s working age population. But 58% of those surveyed by the business lobby group didn’t believe that the net annual migration figure was achievable with the majority of those skeptics from the tourism and hospitality sector.

Tourism and hospitality businesses are concerned about the policy proposal to support migration only where local talent is not available, with respondents from that sector saying they struggle to fill jobs with local residents, and 66% of them believing it would cause them recruitment issues.

Chamber will be passing on these numbers to the Economic Development and Social Security departments who are working on the tourism recruitment issue.

Chamber President James Filleul said: “The skills we bring in to Jersey to help grow our economy, and so provide jobs and tax, are more important than the simple numbers.

"The Island has been helped significantly by people moving here, and bringing with them their skills which help drive our economy. That is the nature of any Island, it needs fresh skills, fresh ideas, fresh ways of working.“

Meanwhile half of respondents thought the proposed migration figure of 325 people would dampen Jersey’s economic recovery…and half disagreed.

Mr Filleul said: “I think this shows just how difficult this issue is to predict, and how finely balanced it is. Maybe that reflects the divergence of opinion amongst politicians, the media and Islanders as a whole.”

Immigration is proving to be the top issue for the Island this year and that was reflected in the big response to the Chamber survey.

Mr Filleul said: “The response rate was the highest we have had for many years, perhaps ever; 240 members responded, which is approximately 45% of the membership – for an online survey, that is truly staggering, and shows what a provocative issue this one is.“

Chamber will send the full survey results to the Population Office. The pressure will be on the team there to decide who it gives licenses to.