BREXIT has drastically altered the nationalities of people coming to work in Jersey, new statistics have revealed.
Economic Development Minister Kirsten Morel, reacting to the population and migration statistics for 2023, said the Island had been “forced away” from Europe following the transition from the EU and that the nation needed to “become stronger in its voice” to the UK on what would – and would not – work for Jersey.
The statistics show that the number of people with a “rest of world” nationality (excluding Jersey, British and European) increased by 150% between 2018 and 2023, from 1,720 to 4,300 people.
In this same period, the number of Europeans decreased by 7% from 16,740 to 15,610.
The number of Polish nationals decreased by 16%, with a similar drop seen among Romanians, while the size of the French population fell by 13%.
Meanwhile, South African, Indian and Zimbabwean groups all increased in size (by between 71% and 138%), and people from elsewhere in the world, such as Kenya and the Philippines, doubled over the same period.
In fact, net migration among people from the “rest of the world” was seven times greater in 2023 than in 2020.
Deputy Morel, speaking to the JEP from Caen where he is carrying out diplomatic work, said this demographic change was “a consequence of Brexit and nothing else”.
He continued: “I am really concerned that Jersey is being forced away from Europe when it is a European island as well as a British island.
“Of course, I welcome all the people from all over the world who have come to Jersey to live and work, because we need them. But Jersey needs to become stronger in its voice to the UK and in saying that what works for the UK doesn’t necessarily work for Jersey.
“We need to express our interests to the UK, and our interests are served by good and strong relations with Europe.”
The 2016 vote to leave the EU frustrated many Islanders because Jersey was excluded from the referendum.
Jersey’s relations with the rest of Europe were governed by Protocol 3 to the Treaty of Accession to the European Community of 1973, but Brexit brought an end to that protocol.
Post-Brexit biometric border and passport controls which are being introduced have recently thrust Jersey’s relationship with Europe back into the spotlight, and Deputy Morel referred to the Jersey government’s current negotiations with the UK Home Office to extend the French ID card day-trip scheme, which he said had benefited the Island and its hospitality sector.
The statistics also show that very few people from the “rest of world” population are moving to entitled or entitled-to-work status, which results in a transient population.
Deputy Morel said that while this was not a problem in itself, it could affect aspects of society such as voter turnout, Island identity and the housing market.
Elsewhere, the report showed that the total population of 103,650 had stayed relatively stable compared with the previous year.
However, there continue to be more deaths than births in the Island, something which, up until 2022, had not been the case since 1983. And the dependency ratio – the amount of the population not in the workforce – continues to increase, hitting 52.9% at the end of 2023.
The number of over-64s grew by 12% between 2018 and 2023, while the number of under-16s fell by 5%.
Deputy Morel, whose focus is on keeping the economy strong and productivity high, said the statistics were “not unexpected” and highlighted the challenge that lies ahead.
On the subject of boosting productivity to pay for the healthcare needs of an ageing population, Deputy Morel said: “We are nowhere near where we need to be.”
