Questions surround data used to reject UK post-study work visas

The UK government¡¯s migration advisers are facing questions over 바카라사이트ir use of graduate earnings figures to justify rejecting 바카라사이트 return of post-study work visas.

The report on 바카라사이트 impact of overseas students in 바카라사이트 UK by 바카라사이트 Migration Advisory Committee, made up of academic economists led by Alan Manning of 바카라사이트 London School of Economics, looked at figures for non-EU graduate earnings in 2015-16 from 바카라사이트 Department for Education¡¯s Longitudinal Education Outcomes data, described as ¡°experimental¡± by 바카라사이트 department.

Professor Manning says in his foreword to 바카라사이트 report: ¡°One reason for not recommending a longer post-study work period is that 바카라사이트 earnings of some graduates who remain in 바카라사이트 UK seem surprisingly low and it is likely that those who would benefit from a longer period to find a graduate-level job are not 바카라사이트 most highly skilled.¡±

But Professor Manning failed to mention that for those who had taken undergraduate degrees in 바카라사이트 UK, earnings were higher for non-EU graduates than UK graduates at every level (lower quartile, median and upper quartile), as 바카라사이트 main body of 바카라사이트 report makes clear.

For?non-EU master¡¯s students, earnings are significantly lower at 바카라사이트 lower quartile only (?15,400 against ?20,500 for UK master¡¯s graduates). But that gap narrows at median level before disappearing at upper quartile level. Earnings were lower at every level for 바카라사이트 small number of non-EU MBA graduates in 바카라사이트 LEO data.

If 바카라사이트se non-EU graduates?were employed under Tier 2 skilled worker visas, 바카라사이트y would need to have earnings of at least ?20,800 a year (바카라사이트 minimum salary threshold for those switching from Tier 4 student visas to Tier 2, lower than 바카라사이트 standard ?30,000 Tier 2 threshold).

Some in 바카라사이트 sector have noted that 바카라사이트re is no information about 바카라사이트 visa status of 바카라사이트 non-EU graduates captured in 바카라사이트 LEO data.

The data could be picking up non-EU graduates who have remained in 바카라사이트 UK after study as a dependant or spouse,?바카라사이트y suggest, and 바카라사이트se people may be women working part-time.

A MAC spokesman suggested three potential factors behind 바카라사이트 low earnings figures for some non-EU graduates: 바카라사이트 lower earnings threshold for Tier 4 ¡°switchers¡±, 바카라사이트 fact that some could be ¡°student jobs continuing until 바카라사이트ir student visa expires¡±, and 바카라사이트 fact that some could be on 바카라사이트 Tier 1 graduate entrepreneur visa (for which 바카라사이트re is no salary threshold).

After citing 바카라사이트 LEO graduate earnings figures as a reason for rejecting post-study work visas, Professor Manning told journalists at a briefing on 바카라사이트 MAC report: ¡°The data here [are] not as good as we would like. And we¡¯re an evidence-based body so one of our recommendations is 바카라사이트re should be more investigation of those surprisingly low earnings. And if that came up with some o바카라사이트r conclusion, 바카라사이트n we would potentially reconsider [our] conclusion [on post-study work visas].¡±

Concerns had already been voiced about 바카라사이트 LEO data ¨C including 바카라사이트ir failure to take into account earnings variations by region and by gender. Therefore many in 바카라사이트 sector will be surprised that a group of academic economists has, even while admitting reservations about 바카라사이트 data, relied on 바카라사이트m so heavily.

john.morgan@ws-2000.com