On Wednesday, the newly published Jersey Population Estimate revealed that net migration soared to 1,500 last year – its highest level since the States’ Statistics Unit started annual records in 2001.
The figure was almost five times the States’ annual forecast of net migration of 325, which was set in 2013. Jersey’s population was estimated to be 102,700 at the end of 2015 and has grown by almost 12,000 in the last decade, meanwhile, a forecast contained in the Medium Term Financial Plan approved by the States last year says that if net migration of 500 is taken into account, Jersey’s population will be 116,000 by 2035.
Senator Paul Routier, who is responsible for population policy, said that as Jersey looks to boost its economy the States had ‘changed’ its policy on the granting of work permits to be more supportive of businesses which require migrant staff.
