Leave-voting areas recorded faster relative growth in foreign workers after 2016 referendum

Leave-voting areas recorded faster relative growth in foreign workers after the 2016 referendum, according to an analysis of government Pay As You Earn data. The larger percentage change occurred because many Leave areas started with a smaller base of foreign workers.

Remain-voting areas, often larger cities, still employ the highest absolute numbers of non-UK workers. The data indicate that migration became more noticeable in places previously less accustomed to it.

Deprivation rankings A separate review of official deprivation statistics found that the strongest Remain-voting constituencies in England improved their relative positions between 2015 and 2025. Brexit-voting constituencies such as Boston and Skegness, Hartlepool, and North Warwickshire and Bedworth fell further behind on several measures.

Health-related deprivation indicators, including risk of early death and hospital admissions, showed the widest divergence. Housing and services rankings also diverged, with Leave areas improving more slowly or declining. Crime deprivation rankings followed a similar pattern.

One constituency representative of many Leave areas slipped seven places overall but fell 52 places on housing and 127 places on crime. The analysis combined government deprivation indices with constituency-level estimates of the 2016 referendum vote.

Officials and researchers noted that factors including the pandemic and changes in manufacturing also affected local economies during the period.