Abstract
In this paper the role of migration in bringing labour supply and demand into balance (or in mitigating imbalance) in Britain in the 1980s is investigated. The paper begins with a brief introduction to the theoretical perspectives on labour migration and the relevant data sources. The major trends in migration and unemployment at national and regional scales are outlined, and the key characteristics of job-related migrants are identified. In the main part of the paper the author is concerned with the operationalisation of two contrasting methodological approaches designed to promote a greater understanding of the influences acting on changing migration patterns and the role of migration, alongside other factors in labour-market changes. First, the results from a shift-share approach are discussed; and second, the output from an application of the labour-market accounts technique is described.
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