Beyond salary thresholds, the MAC’s 2025 Annual Report—published 17 December—turns the spotlight on two issues that resonate with employers and policymakers alike: the lifetime fiscal impact of the Family Partner visa and the persistent English-language gaps among certain migrant groups.
The committee finds that while family-route migrants are initially net contributors, many move into a lifetime fiscal deficit as labour-market participation falls, particularly among women. The top 10 % of earners remain net positive, leading the MAC to urge targeted employment support and better skills recognition to maximise economic contribution.
![MAC highlights family-route fiscal cost and English-language gaps in wide-ranging annual review]()
On language, the report shows wide variance in English proficiency by nationality and visa type, with weaker skills correlating strongly with lower wages and slower workplace progression. The MAC says the government should review current B1/B2 English-language testing, consider occupation-specific benchmarks and expand subsidised training—recommendations that could oblige employers to invest more in on-arrival language programmes.
For HR and mobility teams, the findings may herald stricter English-language evidence for future visas and increased pressure to track spousal employment outcomes as part of corporate-sustainability reporting. Diversity and inclusion leads may wish to collaborate with L&D departments to design scalable language-upskilling solutions.
Politically, the report gives ministers an evidence base to refine the forthcoming Immigration White Paper, expected in spring 2026, and signals that even non-economic routes will face closer economic scrutiny.
The committee finds that while family-route migrants are initially net contributors, many move into a lifetime fiscal deficit as labour-market participation falls, particularly among women. The top 10 % of earners remain net positive, leading the MAC to urge targeted employment support and better skills recognition to maximise economic contribution.
On language, the report shows wide variance in English proficiency by nationality and visa type, with weaker skills correlating strongly with lower wages and slower workplace progression. The MAC says the government should review current B1/B2 English-language testing, consider occupation-specific benchmarks and expand subsidised training—recommendations that could oblige employers to invest more in on-arrival language programmes.
For HR and mobility teams, the findings may herald stricter English-language evidence for future visas and increased pressure to track spousal employment outcomes as part of corporate-sustainability reporting. Diversity and inclusion leads may wish to collaborate with L&D departments to design scalable language-upskilling solutions.
Politically, the report gives ministers an evidence base to refine the forthcoming Immigration White Paper, expected in spring 2026, and signals that even non-economic routes will face closer economic scrutiny.
