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UK to Train 120,000 Citizens to Reduce Immigrant Labour Dependence
The United Kingdom has unveiled a sweeping £3 billion workforce development initiative to train 120,000 British citizens across high-demand sectors, aiming to reduce the country’s dependency on immigrant labour. The programme, backed by Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s government, is seen as a cornerstone of its broader economic agenda focused on self-reliance and long-term job sustainability.
The initiative includes major skills training efforts in construction, engineering, digital industries, and healthcare, with plans to create 30,000 new apprenticeships over the next four years. In his remarks, the Prime Minister described the initiative’s guiding principle as “Builders. Not. Blockers,” underlining the government’s intent to focus on capability-building rather than curbs alone.
Focus on Apprenticeships and Skills Gaps
As part of the broader strategy, the government will shift apprenticeship funding away from master’s-level programmes to support lower-level training, especially for first-time jobseekers and career switchers. This change is aimed at addressing the immediate skill shortages and making training more accessible to a larger section of the population.
Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson emphasized the long-term value of the investment. “A skilled workforce is the key to steering the economy forward, and today we’re backing the next generation by giving young people more opportunities to learn a trade, earn a wage, and achieve and thrive,” she said.
The move aligns with broader Labour market reforms, addressing not only employer concerns about talent shortages but also the growing demand among Britons for meaningful upskilling opportunities.
Tackling Inactivity and Migration Dependency
One of the driving forces behind the initiative is the rising economic inactivity rate. Over 21% of working-age Britons are currently not employed or actively seeking work, posing a significant challenge to the country’s productivity and social welfare system.
To help fund the expanded training effort, the government is planning a 32% increase in the immigration skills charge imposed on employers hiring from abroad. This adjustment is expected to help finance up to 45,000 additional training placements, encouraging firms to invest more in the local workforce.
The plan seeks to not just reduce net migration numbers but also build a more sustainable and self-sufficient domestic labour pool for the future.
Business Concerns and Policy Balance
Although the programme has been broadly welcomed, segments of the UK business community have voiced concern that reduced immigration flexibility could create workforce gaps in the short term. Business leaders argue that any meaningful reduction in foreign labour must be matched by equally strong domestic training systems and quicker implementation timelines.
Nevertheless, the government’s investment is being seen as a clear pivot towards prioritizing domestic human capital development. It hopes to send a strong signal that the UK is ready to empower its own citizens to meet the evolving demands of the job market — without overreliance on foreign-born workers.
