British nationals accounted for one-fifth of payroll growth since 2014, analysis says

A think tank says British nationals accounted for one-fifth of payroll additions in the UK between 2014 and the end of 2025.

Its analysis found that 734,000 British nationals were added to the tax payroll system, compared with 2.5 million non-EU nationals and 408,000 EU nationals.

The Centre for Social Justice says the trend has grown more pronounced since 2020, with British employee numbers falling in nine of the UK’s 12 regions and nations.

In Scotland, British payroll registrations fell by 53,000 while non-EU registrations rose by more than 153,000; in London, the respective figures were down 26,500 and up 407,000.

British nationals still made up most payroll workers in December 2025, with 25.6 million out of 32 million.

The think tank argues that reliance on migration to fill jobs has coincided with more British people being out of work and relying on benefits, and says immigration has helped overall economic growth while masking slower growth in GDP per person.

It calls for welfare reform, immigration policy and regional growth to be addressed together, but does not set out specific next steps.