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A new white paper notes that “Indian migration to the UK has evolved in four distinct waves since 1947, each aligned with Britain’s shifting economic and labour needs.” and argues that it has played a central role in shaping modern Britain’s economyThe report titled “Migration of the Indian Diaspora to the UK”, released by Manish Tiwari of Here & Now 365 in collaboration with the Aston India Centre at Aston University, traces the evolution of Indian migration.According to the study, the first wave arrived during post-war labour shortages, with “post-war migration from India help[ing] address acute labour shortages across manufacturing, transport and public services, contributing to the foundations of the National Health Service.” The second wave followed the 1970s expulsion of Asians from East Africa, which “led to significant entrepreneurial activity and local economic regeneration.”Many of these families established businesses that revitalised local economies.As the UK economy transitioned toward a knowledge-based model, Indian migration increasingly comprised skilled professionals. The white paper estimates that “Indian-born professionals are estimated to account for around 15% of the UK’s technology workforce.” In the post-Brexit and post-pandemic period, the fourth wave is described as strategically significant. “Indian professionals have become strategically important in addressing critical skills shortages,” the report states.Describing the Indian diaspora as “among the most economically successful ethnic minority groups in the UK,” the study underscores the community’s continued role in healthcare, technology and entrepreneurship.
