49 per cent in Northern Ireland believe migrants taking jobs

A new survey has revealed approximately 50 per cent of people in Northern Ireland believe that migrant workers take jobs away from locals.

Nearly a third believe they came to the Northern Ireland to receive benefits and felt that they were placing a strain on services, according to the survey for the Department of Employment and Learning.

The report also claimed attitudes towards migrant workers have hardened in the tougher labour market.

Minister for employment Sir Reg Empey said the report also pointed out some positive aspects.

He said Migrant workers continued to play an important part in shaping Northern Ireland’s local communities and in contributing to a more diverse and robust Northern Ireland economy.

He went on to say the department remained committed to ensuring their economic and societal contribution is recognised and that their employment rights, as for all Northern Ireland workers, was protected by a modern and effective employment rights infrastructure.

The report, Attitudes to Migrant Workers, followed 1,184 interviews with 47 per cent of those surveyed saying that they believe migrant workers took jobs away from those who were born in Northern Ireland.

The results were slightly higher than those from 2007 when 45 percent voiced similar attitudes and from 20087 when 44 responded similarly.

This year’s study showed 29 per cent agreed or strongly agreed that migrant workers went to Northern Ireland purely to get social security benefits, a result similar to earlier surveys.

DUP MP Sammy Wilson argued that firms should give jobs priority locals ahead of migrant workers in the current economic downturn.