Free IELTS lessons signup

home

  • Academic practice
  • General practice
  • Task 1 Academic
  • Task 1 General
  • Task 2 (essay)

IELTS band 9 essay: immigration

Here you can find advice how to structure IELTS essay and IELTS model answer for immigration topic. Question type: reasons and consequences .

Here is the question card:

Immigration has a major impact on the society.

What are the main reasons of immigration?

To what consequences can it lead?

To write a band 9 essay you should first of all choose your arguments to answer the questions from the topic. You don't have to find some complicated ideas. Remember: you won't be judged upon the quality of your thoughts, you will be judged upon the quality of your writing. So even simple, but well-written arguments can often give you a band 9 writing .

  • Reasons why people immigrate
  • Results of immigration

Some of the possible arguments :

  • Reasons of immigration :
  • People want to live in a safe country
  • People search better jobs with higher salaries
  • People escape from wars/disasters
  • Results of immigration :
  • People’s expectations come true / don’t come true
  • Immigrants face other difficulties
  • Countries of destination have to give money to support refugees
  • Overpopulation

How to structure my answer?

Of course, there are a lot of ways to organise this essay. But here is one possible way of structuring the answer to produce a band 9 essay :

Introduction : simply rephrase the topic and say what this essay is about. When your essay question asks you about reasons/consequences or causes/solutions, you shouldn’t try to describe all that in your introduction. Instead, state that you’ll describe them later in your essay.

Body paragraphs :

  • paragraph 1: main reasons of immigration
  • paragraph 2: main consequences of immigration

Conclusion : sum up the ideas from body paragraphs and briefly give your opinion.

Band 9 essay sample (immigration)

Immigration has a significant impact on the contemporary society. Each year, more and more people from all over the world decide to leave their home countries and move to another place. This essay will examine the reasons and the consequences of immigration.

In my view, the main reason of immigration is a strong desire of better life quality and safe future. A lot of people from so-called Third World move to developed countries in search of better employment opportunities, and therefore, higher incomes. Moreover, living in a wealthy country implies living in a country with stable economy, so risks of losing their savings also lessen. For example, labour migration from Mexico to the USA is caused by these facts. Other reasons that force whole families to cross borders are wars and various cultural conflicts in their homeland. Many people migrate, seeking security and safe future for their children. For instance, most of the refugees who arrived in the European Union were escaping from wars.

However, sometimes immigration causes more problems than it solves, resulting in negative consequences for both immigrants and their countries of destination. First of all, most of the refugees can’t find jobs because of the lack of language skills and difficulties in adaptation. That’s why the countries have to run various refugee assistance programs to help those people. But disproportionate burden of maintaining the immigrants leads to tension in the society. Secondly, not all of the refugees receive proper asylum, food and medical care. So they are at risk even after crossing the border. Finally, even highly qualified specialists, who seek better employment, often don’t get what they are looking for.

In conclusion, I think that people immigrate to have better life prospects. However, life after immigration may not always meet people’s expectations. So it’s very important to consider all the possible outcomes and decide whether leaving your homeland is worth it.

(315 words)

Useful vocabulary

better employment opportunities – opportunity to find a better job

burden of maintaining immigrants – difficulties in helping immigrants faced by the governments

country with stable economy – rich and safe country

to cross the border – immigrate

labour migration – when people migrate to find better jobs

refugee – person who is forced to leave his birth place because of war

refugee assistance programs – when the government gives to the refugees asylum and food

to seek better employment – look for better job

Third World – developing countries

to meet expectations – if something doesn’t meet your expectations, it’s not as good as you have thought

TED IELTS

  • A Beginner’s Guide to IELTS
  • Common Grammar Mistakes [for IELTS Writing Candidates]

Writing Correction Service

  • Free IELTS Resources
  • Practice Speaking Test

Select Page

Immigration Topic [IELTS Writing Task 2]

Posted by David S. Wills | Aug 6, 2018 | IELTS Tips , Writing | 0

Immigration Topic [IELTS Writing Task 2]

Today we’re going to look at a typical IELTS writing task 2 question about immigration. I will show you how to analyze the question , generate ideas and examples, structure your essay, and then finally write it. This question type is “discuss both views” but remember that the topic of immigration could be addressed in various ways for IELTS writing task 2.

Analyze the Question

Here is the question we will answer today:

Some people claim that immigrants should adopt the local culture when immigrating to a new country. While others think that they can establish a minority community instead. Discuss both views and give your opinion.

Let’s look first at some of the key words that can help us to understand what we should do:

  • immigrants – people who have moved to a new country
  • immigrating – the process of moving to a new country
  • adopt – to begin to use something
  • minority – meaning less than half; a small proportion of something

So what is this question about?

It is about whether or not immigrants should adopt the local culture or establish a minority community.

What do you need to do?

You need to (1) discuss both views and (2) give your opinion.

Choosing the Right Language

By now you have read the question and should be familiar with its meaning. You should have already noted down useful vocabulary from the question that you may want to use in your essay.

Remember: Don’t copy from the question. You can use some words or a short phrase, but don’t repeat the question in your essay.

Changing Word Form

statue of liberty

  • immigrant/immigrating -> immigration
  • culture -> cultural
  • adopt -> adoption

Think of Synonyms

It is also very important to have some synonyms handy to avoid repetition. It also makes your writing look much better to have a few carefully chosen synonyms for key words in the question.

  • immigrants -> new arrivals/ newcomers
  • local -> native/ regional
  • establish -> create/ set up

A word I think is really, really useful for the topic of immigration and culture is “assimilate” or “assimilation”. This means the same as “adopt the local culture”.

And Don’t Forget Antonyms

Everyone knows that you need to be good with synonyms to do well in IELTS, but it also helps to know a few antonyms, too. (Antonym means the opposite of synonym.)

  • minority -> majority
  • adopt -> reject
  • immigrating -> emigrating

By the way, it’s really useful to have a good dictionary or thesaurus for this sort of thing.

Generating Useful Ideas and Examples

When writing an IELTS writing task 2 essay, you need to be able to explore complex topics in an intelligent manner. As such, you need to be able to generate useful ideas and examples to use in your essay. It shows logical thought and will impress the examiner.

The first step is to fully understand the question. You cannot begin planning an answer until you fully comprehend the task. Go back to step one if you are unsure.

Next, you need to brainstorm . Brainstorming means thinking of lots of ideas. You can quickly think about or note down any ideas related to the question.

brainstorming ielts ideas

Here are my notes on the above question:

For – good for local culture (multiculturalism)
– makes life easier
– more job opportunities
– people will trust you more
– learn more about new country
Against – safer
– preserve traditions and language
– scary to mix
– fear of other people
– fosters strong sense of identity

If we look at the above list, we can clearly see some good ideas, and some bad ones. There are also some that would be easy to write about and some that would not be easy to write about.

When choosing ideas for your essay, ask yourself whether you (1) know enough about the subject and (2) have the language to describe it.

Pick just your very best ideas and then think of how to explain them. Can you cite examples, or give details? You must be able to elaborate in order to write a fully-developed paragraph.

Remember: It is better to describe one thing in detail than four things briefly. This is because it shows your ability to construct arguments and usual transitional phrases.

Here are some of my ideas from above, with the worst ones removed:

Developing Your Ideas

From the remaining two ideas in favour of adopting the local culture, I would probably choose to write about job opportunities .

But what could I say about job opportunities? What are some ideas relevant to immigration and culture?

  • I could explain that assimilation to the local culture would increase job opportunities.
  • This would then result in better quality of living for the immigrant.
  • It would also be beneficial to society and the economy.
  • I could then give a real or hypothetical example.

Learning to structure an IELTS writing task 2 essay is really easy. It have lots of articles on this topic here:

  • IELTS Writing Task 2 Essay Structures
  • Selecting Ideas and Structuring an Essay [IELTS Writing Task 2]
  • Structuring an IELTS Task 2 Essay
  • How to Structure a Paragraph
  • IELTS Writing: Should I Write 4 or 5 Paragraphs?

You should be able to master the basics of essay structure in under a day. Just follow these instructions:

  • Analyze the question
  • Choose 4 or 5 paragraph structure 
  • Generate several good ideas
  • Decide on the order of your ideas
  • Make notes on the content of each paragraph
  • Write the essay

In the above sections, I have outlined steps 1-3, and now I will show you my notes, which make up steps 3-4.

Introduction – paraphrase question essay outline Para #1 – in favour of assimilation main argument: job opportunity explain Para #2 – in favour of minority community main argument: preserve traditions and language explain Conclusion – state my position and review para 1-2

Here’s a useful video about structuring IELTS essays

Sample Answer

Here is my sample answer to the above question about immigration.

As the world population grows and people become increasingly mobile, people are divided over the extent to which immigrants should attempt to assimilate into the local culture. This essay will look at the main argument from each side of the debate, and then suggest that a compromise is needed, wherein immigrants both assimilate and form a strong community. The people who argue in favour of immigrants assimilating into the local culture often point out that it increases the number of job opportunities available to the newcomers. Immigrants often find it difficult to find a job when they move to a new country, but by becoming part of the wider community, they open themselves to more possibilities. The immigrant will be able to improve his quality of life, as well as to contribute to the economy, so there are clear benefits from both the perspective of the immigrant and the local society. On the other hand, the people who think immigrants should form minority communities point to the preservation of cultural traditions and language. They believe that adopting the local culture would cause a loss of the immigrants’ original language and culture. Indeed, this is something that has happened all around the world, and it is not hard to find a Little Italy or Chinatown far from Italy or China. Therefore, it makes sense that immigrants form tight-knit communities in their new countries. In conclusion, it is clear that a balance needs to be sought between these two approaches to immigration, and so neither is entirely correct. Without assimilating into the local culture, immigrants may find it difficult to get ahead in life, but if they become completely immersed in the new culture, they might forget their roots and their language may disappear.

A Final Note

If you have followed my instructions above, you should have a pretty good essay!

Remember to leave a few minutes for editing at the end. Here’s a good checklist:

  • Have I spelled all the words correctly?
  • Is my grammar correct?
  • Did I stray off-topic in any paragraph?
  • Is my position clear from beginning to end?
  • Did I completely answer the question?

If you are struggling with #2, you can pick up a FREE copy of my grammar textbook :

immigration essay in ielts

About The Author

David S. Wills

David S. Wills

David S. Wills is the author of Scientologist! William S. Burroughs and the 'Weird Cult' and the founder/editor of Beatdom literary journal. He lives and works in rural Cambodia and loves to travel. He has worked as an IELTS tutor since 2010, has completed both TEFL and CELTA courses, and has a certificate from Cambridge for Teaching Writing. David has worked in many different countries, and for several years designed a writing course for the University of Worcester. In 2018, he wrote the popular IELTS handbook, Grammar for IELTS Writing and he has since written two other books about IELTS. His other IELTS website is called IELTS Teaching.

Related Posts

10 IELTS Listening Tips

10 IELTS Listening Tips

April 7, 2016

How Many Types of IELTS Writing Task 1 Are There?

How Many Types of IELTS Writing Task 1 Are There?

June 7, 2021

The Key to IELTS Success is… Simple Language?

The Key to IELTS Success is… Simple Language?

August 14, 2019

IELTS Speaking Cue Cards: A Comprehensive Guide

IELTS Speaking Cue Cards: A Comprehensive Guide

October 7, 2022

Leave a reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed .

Download my IELTS Books

books about ielts writing

Recent Posts

  • Past Simple vs Past Perfect
  • Complex Sentences
  • How to Score Band 9 [Video Lesson]
  • Taxing Fast Food: Model IELTS Essay
  • Airport Vocabulary

ielts writing correction service

Recent Comments

  • Daisey Lachut on IELTS Discussion Essays [Discuss Both Views/Sides]
  • David S. Wills on Describe a Historical Period
  • Siavash on Describe a Historical Period
  • fabliha on IELTS Speaking Partners
  • tufail khan on IELTS Discussion Essays [Discuss Both Views/Sides]
  • Lesson Plans
  • Model Essays
  • TED Video Lessons
  • Weekly Roundup

Migration and Immigration

Achieve excellence in Migration and Immigration essays for IELTS with IELTS24. Expert questions and model essays guide your test preparation journey.

IELTS24 caters to IELTS Writing Task 2 aspirants with a section dedicated to the nuanced themes of Migration and Immigration. Our questions explore the complexities of population movement, integration, and the socio-economic effects on host and origin countries. With model essays that provide exemplary responses, students can learn to craft essays with clarity and insight. Comprehensive feedback aims to refine students' skills, equipping them with the ability to write essays that engage critically with migration topics, a crucial edge for attaining top IELTS scores.

IELTS Common Essay Topic: Immigration and Migration

immigration essay in ielts

Immigration: Immigration is when people move from their native place to another permanently. Immigrants do not return back to their native places, they settle down there.

Migration: Migration is when people move from one place to another. In this case, migrant come back to their native places after certain period of time.

Advantages of moving abroad:

Social, political and economic development of personality is the main reason people shift from one place to another.

Better job opportunities/Salaries:

  • Many people migrate for better job opportunities and salaries. Many foreign countries offer better jobs in MNC (Multinational National Companies), which provide better facilities. And there are several professions, which are paid well in other countries.

Better lifestyle:

  • Many foreign countries provide better lifestyle to their citizens.
  • Well organized society- rules and regulations.
  • Respect towards fellow citizens.

Better environment:

  • Many foreign counties have clean environment like clean water supply, fresh (less polluted) air, etc.

Better facilities:

  • Several foreign countries provide better medical facilities, better pension after the age of retirement, better transport system, etc.

People get a chance to explore new cultures and customs(International Exposure):

  • People come across new people from different cultures and tradition. Immigrants can learn and explore new things about them.

Consequences of moving abroad :

  • People find language as an obstacle, as they may face social as well as practical problems:

Social Problems:

  • People may lose certain job opportunities due to lack of communication with their colleagues.
  • Some people may find it difficult to co-ordinate with other coworkers during the team work.
  • Jobs regarding marketing, salesperson or any other in which they have to interact with other native people, can be problematic. They may need to hire a translator for them.

Practical Problems:

  • People can have troubles in the market places. Language may act as an obstacle when they are buying the daily needs.
  • It is difficult for the people to make friends and they lack social circle.
  • Some people even find it difficult to get along the neighbors.
  • People may feel the culture difference at new places.
  • People find homesick being away from their home, family and friends.

Sample Topics:

  • Living in a country where you have to speak a foreign language can cause serious social problems, as well as practical problems. To what extent do you agree or disagree with this statement?
  • Some people say that the only reason for learning a foreign language us in order to travel to or work in a foreign country. Others say that these are not the only reasons why someone should learn a foreign language. Discuss both views and give your own opinion.
  • Some people believe that professionals, such as doctors and engineers, should be required to work in the country where they did their training. Others believe they should be free to work in another country if they wish. Discuss bith these views and give your own opinion.
  • So many are migrating to other countries each year in recent years. Immigration has a major impact on society. What are the main reasons for immigration? What consequences can it lead?

IELTS Essay topic: Internet and its uses

The Best Motivation for IELTS !! What can really help you to get 7+ Band score?  Click here

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

You cannot copy content of this page

Insert/edit link

Enter the destination URL

Or link to existing content

  • TOEFL Writing Correction Topics
  • OET Course & Mock Test
  • Writing Correction
  • Speaking Mock Test
  • Reading Course
  • Listening Practice Tests
  • FREE Practice Tests
  • OET Writing Correction
  • OET Reading Course
  • OET Speaking Mock Test
  • TOEFL Writing Correction
  • PTE Writing Correction
  • OET Listening Practice Tests
  • OET (Occupational English Test)
  • PTE (Pearson Test of English)
  • IELTS Sample Essay 10 – No Restrictions on Immigration

IELTS Essay

Emigration is a natural consequence of an individual’s desire to improve their lives. Therefore there should be no restrictions on international migration. To what extent do you agree or disagree with this statement?

One of the central premises of emigrating is to improve quality of someone’s life and it is felt that for human right, there should be no border controls between Western countries and their less-rich neighbors. Nevertheless, it is asserted that this will cause lots of negative impacts when compared to having sophisticated methods of control.

IELTS writing correction

Firstly, moral foundations of liberal democracies will be threatened by exotic culture unless there are adamant and border policies on international migration. It is stressed that culture assimilation may be the central issue in the foreseeable future as more and more Asian emigrants step into Australia to seek greater employment opportunities. Features of distinct Australia such as traditional dress, ingrained rituals and religious practices now seem not to be fortified because they have been replaced by similarities in clothing, music and cultural tradition imported from Asian states.

In addition, economic wealth and security tend to decrease in quality provided that restrictive measures do not apply on migration governance. It is argued that external control to migration flows before they reach their destination countries and internal control after migration are essential. The reason for this is because the government needs to assure the safety and well-being of all their residents including refugees. Therefore, strict control border policies and selective process in choosing appropriate migrants play a pivotal role in securing people of developed countries. Also, it is thought to be one of the efficient ways to help avoid destabilization of economic growth.

In conclusion, it is human nature to have their lives improved and emigrating is one of possible ways to satisfy their desire. However, restrictive measures in terms of border controls need to be imposed in developed nations in order to avoid cultural blurring and insecurity.

  • IELTS Essay Types with Writing Topics and Samples
  • IELTS Writing Paraphrasing Guide
  • How to Write Problem Solution Essay in IELTS
  • Guide to Advantage Disadvantage IELTS Essay Type
  • IELTS Writing Task 2: Double Question Essays Types
  • IELTS Writing Task 2: Discussion Essays- Benchmark IELTS
  • Many doctors recommend that older people exercise regularly
  • How Long Should My IELTS Essay Be?
  • IELTS General Writing Task 2: Everything You Need To Know
  • Boost your IELTS Writing Score with Proofreading
  • IELTS Writing Task 2 Sample Essay 1 – Short Water Supply
  • IELTS Sample Essay 2 – Meeting Someone For the First Time
  • IELTS Sample Essay 3 – Marry For Love or Money
  • IELTS Sample Essay 4 – Children’s Behaviour
  • IELTS Sample Essay 5 – Worsening Children’s Behavior
  • IELTS Sample Essay 6 – Older People Working
  • IELTS Sample Essay 7 – Children Spending Saving Money
  • IELTS Sample Essay 8 – Consumerism
  • IELTS Sample Essay 9 – Natural Resources and Economic Growth
  • IELTS Sample Essay 11 – Fewer Female Leaders
  • IELTS Sample Essay 12 – Future Developments
  • IELTS Sample Essay 13 – Shopping is Dangerous
  • IELTS Sample Essay 14 – Work to Live or Live to Work
  • IELTS Sample Essay 15 – International Travel

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

OET Writing Correction

  • ielts writing
  • ielts listening
  • ielts speaking
  • ielts reading
  • ielts practice test
  • IELTS Sample Reports
  • IELTS Sample Essays
  • IELTS Sample Letters
  • IELTS Vocabulary

Exam Updates & Tips!

Signup for preparation and special offers!

You have successfully joined our subscriber list.

50 Latest Migration IELTS Topics

  • Unlimited Essay Checks: Practice and perfect your skills.
  • Detailed Error Analysis: Spot every mistake.
  • In-Built Grammar Checker: Say no to grammatical errors.
  • Personalized Suggestions: Know how to boost your score.
  • Progress Tracking: View your checked essay history.
  • Still thinking? We have a 14-day money-back guarantee. Take a leap of faith!

IELTS Luminary - Free Tips, Strategies, eBooks and Detailed Essay Feedback . Overall, this is the best free IELTS and other test prep website.

  • IELTS Luminary
  • Aug 16, 2022

Immigration has a major impact on the society. What are the main reasons.. IELTS Band 9 Sample Essay

Updated: Mar 9

You should spend about 40 minutes on this task.

Write about the following topic:

Immigration has a major impact on the society.

What are the main reasons of immigration?

To what consequences can it lead?

Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge and experiences.

You should write at least 250 words.

Task 2 Band 9 Essay Sample (Immigration has a Major Impact on the Society)

Get your personalised  IELTS Essay Feedback   from a former examiner

Download IELTS eBooks ,   get everything you need to achieve a high band score

Sample Essay 1

Immigration undeniably wields a profound influence on society, propelled by multifaceted motivations and yielding a spectrum of repercussions. At the heart of this phenomenon lies a quest for better opportunities, escape from persecution, or familial reunification. This essay aims to unpack the primary catalysts for immigration and explore its consequent societal impacts, highlighting both the benefits and challenges it engenders.

Central to understanding immigration is recognizing the dual forces of push and pull factors. Economically, individuals migrate in pursuit of improved employment prospects and living standards, a reflection of the stark disparities between developed and developing nations. Furthermore, political instability and persecution drive countless individuals to seek refuge in more stable environments, underscoring a fundamental desire for safety and human rights. Such movements not only enrich the cultural tapestry of host societies through diversity but also stimulate economic growth by addressing labor shortages and fostering innovation. However, the influx of immigrants can precipitate societal strain, manifesting in challenges related to integration, resource allocation, and sometimes, a rise in xenophobic sentiments. These dynamics underscore the complexity of immigration's societal impact, necessitating nuanced policy responses that balance economic benefits with social cohesion.

Conversely, the consequences of immigration extend beyond the immediate economic and cultural spheres, influencing the social fabric and identity of communities. While immigrants contribute significantly to the cultural diversity and economic vitality of their new homes, their arrival can also ignite debates on national identity, social integration, and resource distribution. The challenge for societies is to harness the positive aspects of immigration—such as innovation, cultural exchange, and demographic rejuvenation—while effectively addressing and mitigating potential tensions and inequalities.

In conclusion, immigration stands as a potent force shaping societies, driven by the search for betterment and safety. Its impacts are multifaceted, offering avenues for cultural enrichment and economic growth while also posing challenges to social cohesion and resource management. Recognizing and addressing these dimensions is crucial for leveraging immigration's benefits and fostering inclusive, resilient communities. As societies navigate these complexities, the enduring truth remains: immigration has a major impact on the society, weaving a rich tapestry of change and continuity.

Sample Essay 2

The discourse on immigration often revolves around its profound societal impact, a phenomenon driven by myriad factors and leading to diverse outcomes. Through the prism of seeking better livelihoods, fleeing adversities, or reuniting with family, individuals cross borders, thereby weaving the intricate mosaic of global migration. This essay endeavors to dissect the primary reasons behind immigration and delineate its multifaceted consequences on society.

Foremost, the impetus for immigration can largely be attributed to the pursuit of enhanced economic prospects and the escape from regions marred by conflict or oppression. The allure of higher wages, superior living conditions, and the promise of a more secure future magnetize individuals from less affluent backgrounds. Simultaneously, political turmoil and persecution compel people to seek sanctuary in lands where freedom and safety are more than mere aspirations. These movements invariably infuse host societies with fresh talents, cultural diversity, and a broader worldview. Nonetheless, the surge of newcomers can precipitate socio-economic strains, encompassing job competition, infrastructural pressure, and cultural integration challenges, which test the resilience and adaptability of host communities.

The tapestry of immigration's aftermath is intricate, with threads of positive enrichment intertwined with strands of contention. Economically, immigrants often fill critical labor gaps, driving innovation and contributing to the cultural vibrancy and dynamism of their new homes. However, the societal fabric can be stretched, necessitating dialogues on identity, cohesion, and equitable resource distribution to ensure the harmony and prosperity of increasingly diverse communities.

In sum, the narrative of immigration is one of profound societal transformation, underscored by the dualities of opportunity and challenge, enrichment and tension. It beckons societies to navigate these complexities with a balanced approach, fostering environments where the benefits of immigration can flourish while mitigating its potential for discord. Recognizing and embracing the impact of immigration is pivotal in sculpting communities that are not only resilient but also inclusive, underscoring the immutable truth that immigration has a major impact on society.

Sample Essay 3

Immigration profoundly impacts societies around the globe, manifesting in numerous forms and driven by diverse motivations. This essay aims to explore the key reasons prompting individuals to immigrate, such as the pursuit of educational and economic opportunities, and delves into how immigration shapes cultural, economic, and demographic landscapes in host countries, highlighting both its benefits and challenges.

Primarily, individuals migrate in pursuit of enhanced life opportunities, notably in education and employment. Renowned universities in countries like Canada and the UK attract a global student body, offering unparalleled academic prospects. These educational migrations not only benefit the individuals but also contribute to the cultural and intellectual enrichment of the host country. Concurrently, economic migration is a significant factor. People often relocate to economically stable countries for better job opportunities, driven by the allure of higher wages and improved living standards. This influx of a skilled workforce can invigorate the host nation's economy, introducing new skills and bolstering the labor market.

However, the tapestry of immigration is not without its challenges. Social integration poses a major hurdle, with cultural differences leading to potential misunderstandings and conflicts. In countries like Germany, where Syrian refugees have sought asylum, there have been concerted efforts to assimilate these individuals, though not without societal strain. Furthermore, immigration can strain public resources, leading to contentious political debates about national priorities and resource allocation.

Moreover, the societal impact extends to demographic changes. Countries like Japan, facing an aging population, have begun to rely more on immigrants to sustain their workforce and economic growth. This demographic shift, while economically beneficial, can also lead to social tensions as communities adapt to new cultural dynamics.

To conclude, immigration has a major impact on the society due to multifarious reasons. While it offers individuals life-altering opportunities and can invigorate host countries' economies and cultural landscapes, it also presents challenges in terms of integration and resource management.

Sample Essay 4

People who migrate to dwell in a different place permanently affect the society substantially. It is blamed for creating an overcrowded locality, instead of bringing important skills in the destination countries. However, desire for securing a better lifestyle and living beside the loved ones are the key reasons behind this geographical shifting. This essay is going to elucidate the idea in detail.

People leave their homeland to start over in a foreign place because they want a better lifestyle and opportunities accompany their loved ones who already migrated. Every year, Asian students migrate to varied Western countries to study and become their citizens. This is because they can earn much more compared to what income they can generate in their native countries and have a higher life standard. Another reason is to live beside their loved ones, such as a partner from a different country moves to live with her husband and vice versa. This is proved by one of the most common types of permanent visa granted in Australia, partner or family visa.

On one hand, immigration can cause an overcrowding problem as the land remains the same size, but the number of residents grow. The central Bangkok exemplifies this very well as a number of urban Thai relocate to the inner city for employment and higher earnings. On the other hand, migrants bring in with them knowledges and skills which can contribute to development and innovation of the town. For instance, many Chinese migrants with outstanding sports skills joined Olympic team and represented USA. These migrants were proven to utilise their skills and attract glorious reputation to their new home.

In conclusion, people migrate to other locations because they consider it as an opportunity to grow well and reside with their partners. As a result, the volume of migration is rising, which is leading to overpopulation, though the skilled migrants are bringing incredible glories to their new home.

  • Task 2 Sample Essays

Related Posts

We Are Producing More And More Waste - What Are The Causes & What Can Be Done To help Reduce?

Many Students Find It Difficult to Concentrate or Pay Attention at School-Task 2 Band 9 Sample Essay

Money Spent on Developing the Technology for Space Exploration - IELTS Task 2 Band 9 Sample Essay

  • IELTS Scores
  • Life Skills Test
  • Find a Test Centre
  • Alternatives to IELTS
  • Find Student Housing
  • General Training
  • Academic Word List
  • Topic Vocabulary
  • Collocation
  • Phrasal Verbs
  • Writing eBooks
  • Reading eBook
  • All eBooks & Courses
  • Sample Essays

Problem Solution Essay Example

Problem solution essay example: immigration.

This problem solution essay example is about the issue of professionals leaving their own developing countries to go and work abroad in more developed countries. 

This is the question:

An increasing number of professionals, such as doctors and teachers, are leaving their own poorer countries to work in developed countries. 

What problems does this cause?

What solutions can you suggest to deal with this situation?

Brainstorming Relevant Ideas

For this IELTS  problem solution essay example  question you need to brainstorm the kinds of problems that developing countries will face if they start to lose important workers, such as doctors and teachers.

Remember you need to make sure you relate your ideas specifically to the question and you mustn't make them too general. Simply saying that there will not be enough workers left in the developing country is not enough as a developed country could face these same problems.

For instance, in the UK there has been a loss of doctors, who have moved to other countries for better work conditions. So you need to make sure you specifically relate your response to the issue of developing nations . 

When you brainstorm solutions, you should again not make them too general. Try to think of some specific ideas with detail.

Surgeons operating

You should spend about 40 minutes on this task.

Write about the following topic:

What problems does this cause? 

Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own experience or knowledge.

Write at least 250 words.

Model Answer:

The primary goal of many people is to provide for their families. However, for poorer nations, what that often means is that many experienced professionals end up seeking a better life in the more developed nations. Though this can cause problems there are measures to mitigate the issues that arise.

The main problem of this exodus of workers is that the poorer countries often lose their top specialists and are left with novices. These professionals often have the skills and ideas to significantly boost the economy, which is important to improve the standard of living of its residents. The loss of these workers is why developed countries keep improving while the poorer countries remain stagnant. Aside from the brain drain, the other issue is the lack of needed personnel. With so many people exiting the country or leaving their jobs to fulfil the requirements to work abroad, there is often a void in the workplace. For example, in many developing countries, hospitals and schools are often understaffed, causing a decline in services.

Though such problems have been going on for quite some time, there are plausible solutions. The first is to offer what the migrating professionals are looking for: proper compensation and benefits. Doing this will require a lot of coordination and possible tax breaks to make things work, but the results will be well worth it if the talented and experienced workers can stay. The second solution is to prevent workers from leaving until they have served the country for several years. Thus, should the experts go, at least the people left behind will not be fresh graduates anymore. Most governments spend much on their citizens' safety and basic needs and, therefore, it is right that the workers first contribute to their economy before being allowed to leave.

In summary, while it is good that the global economy requires workers from all corners of the world, it is not ideal that poorer countries suffer because of it. The public and private sectors need to work together to mitigate this problem before it is too late.

(339 words)

The  problem solution essay example  meets the requirements of the task as it discusses both problems and solutions and uses ideas and examples to support the various points. 

The response also ensures that the problems are related to issues of developing countries. 

There are good examples of topic-related words and phrases :

  • exodus of workers
  • top specialists
  • standard of living
  • void in the workplace
  • understaffed
  • served the country
  • contribute to their economy 

There is also a good mix of grammatical structures in this  problem solution essay example  and a variety subordinate/dependent clauses . For example:

  • These professionals often have the skills and ideas to significantly boost the economy,  which  is important to improve the standard of living of its residents. (relative clause)
  • The loss of these workers is why  developed countries keep improving,  while  the poorer countries remain stagnant.   (noun clause and adverbial clause)
  • Though  such problems have been going on for quite some time, there are plausible solutions.   (adverbial clause)
  • ....the results will be well worth it  if  the talented and experienced workers can stay. (adverbial clause)
  • The second solution is to prevent workers from leaving  until  they have served the country for a few years.  (adverbial clause)

If you are a weaker candidate you should aim for fewer than the 339 words in this essay as you will not have time to write this much with such accurate grammar.

<<< Back

Next >>>

More Problems & Solutions Essays:

immigration essay in ielts

Competing for Jobs Essay

Competing for Jobs Essay: This is a model essay about the problems arising when older people have to compete with younger people for jobs. you need to write about the problems that arise if older people have to compete for jobs with younger people.

immigration essay in ielts

IELTS Overpopulation Essay: What problems does this cause in cities?

Overpopulation Essay: An IELTS problems and solutions essay about overpopulation in urban areas. You specifically have to talk about the problems of overpopulation, and suggest some solutions to this problem.

Any comments or questions about this page or about IELTS? Post them here. Your email will not be published or shared.

Before you go...

Check out the ielts buddy band 7+ ebooks & courses.

immigration essay in ielts

Would you prefer to share this page with others by linking to it?

  • Click on the HTML link code below.
  • Copy and paste it, adding a note of your own, into your blog, a Web page, forums, a blog comment, your Facebook account, or anywhere that someone would find this page valuable.

Band 7+ eBooks

"I think these eBooks are FANTASTIC!!! I know that's not academic language, but it's the truth!"

Linda, from Italy, Scored Band 7.5

ielts buddy ebooks

IELTS Modules:

Other resources:.

  • All Lessons
  • Band Score Calculator
  • Writing Feedback
  • Speaking Feedback
  • Teacher Resources
  • Free Downloads
  • Recent Essay Exam Questions
  • Books for IELTS Prep
  • Student Housing
  • Useful Links

immigration essay in ielts

Recent Articles

RSS

Alternatives to the IELTS Exam

Mar 22, 24 12:32 PM

Common Questions about the IELTS Speaking Test

Mar 09, 24 05:28 AM

IELTS Computer Delivered Practice Tests Plus Band Score

Mar 01, 24 02:38 AM

IELTS Listening Section 4 Practice

Important pages

IELTS Writing IELTS Speaking IELTS Listening   IELTS Reading All Lessons Vocabulary Academic Task 1 Academic Task 2 Practice Tests

Connect with us

immigration essay in ielts

Copyright © 2022- IELTSbuddy All Rights Reserved

IELTS is a registered trademark of University of Cambridge, the British Council, and IDP Education Australia. This site and its owners are not affiliated, approved or endorsed by the University of Cambridge ESOL, the British Council, and IDP Education Australia.

Band 9 IELTS Preparation

IELTS General Training

A hub for IELTS GT test takers to help them reach their goal.

Essay 90 – So many people are migrating to other countries

Gt writing task 2 / essay sample # 90.

You should spend about 40 minutes on this task.

Write about the following topic:

So many people are migrating to other countries each year in recent years. Immigration has a major impact on society.

What are the main reasons for immigration? What consequences can it lead?

Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience.

Write at least 250 words.

Model Answer:

These days, millions of people across the world are moving to other countries for a better quality of life and to avoid war and conflicts. Immigration exerts tremendous impacts on society- both for the host and origin countries.

Several factors contribute to the recent wave of migration. The most prominent reason is the dream to build a good career and to have a more satisfying lifestyle. For example, each year millions of people from developing nations move to developed countries only to have a better job and to get a better living standard for themselves and their family. Economic challenges also contribute to this phenomenon. While skilled and educated people migrate to have a more gratifying lifestyle, poor and unskilled take it as an opportunity to make a living in a rich country.

War and conflicts also compel millions to move to other countries. War destroys houses, hospitals, schools, utilities, and water and sanitation systems and hundreds of thousands of people are killed by brutal conflicts. In consequence, people flee from war-torn countries. A case in point is the Rohingya crisis in Myanmar. A substantial number of Muslim families have fled to neighbouring Bangladesh in the wake of conflicts and ethnic cleansing.

Migration has both positive and negative impacts on society. For the origin country, it causes a brain drain which is a tremendously negative impact. It also causes gender imbalance as it is typically men who migrate to foreign countries. However, it reduces pressure on resources and jobs while boosts the economy with the remittance sent by migrants. For the host nation, migrants develop a richer and more diverse culture. It also positively affects the economy as migrants tend to take low skilled, low paid jobs. Despite the positive impacts, migration is the cause of unemployment for many natives and it threatens the cultural identity of a nation.

In fine, the expectation of a better life and war have brought the recent influx of migrants. This causes positive and negative impacts on the societies of both the home country and host country.

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Privacy Overview

IELTS Mentor "IELTS Preparation & Sample Answer"

  • Skip to content
  • Jump to main navigation and login

Nav view search

  • IELTS Sample

IELTS Writing Task 2/ Essay Topics with sample answer.

Ielts writing task 2 sample 889 - to what extent will migration become a social and political issue, ielts writing task 2/ ielts essay:, to what extent will migration from the developing world to the developed world become a social and political issue in the 21st century.

immigration essay in ielts

IELTS Materials

  • IELTS Bar Graph
  • IELTS Line Graph
  • IELTS Table Chart
  • IELTS Flow Chart
  • IELTS Pie Chart
  • IELTS Letter Writing
  • IELTS Essay
  • Academic Reading

Useful Links

  • IELTS Secrets
  • Band Score Calculator
  • Exam Specific Tips
  • Useful Websites
  • IELTS Preparation Tips
  • Academic Reading Tips
  • Academic Writing Tips
  • GT Writing Tips
  • Listening Tips
  • Speaking Tips
  • IELTS Grammar Review
  • IELTS Vocabulary
  • IELTS Cue Cards
  • IELTS Life Skills
  • Letter Types

IELTS Mentor - Follow Twitter

  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Copyright Notice
  • HTML Sitemap

ieltsxpress logo

IELTS Essay Topic Immigration

Sample Model Answers for IELTS Essay Topic Immigration. Practice from these ielts essay on topic Immigration. IELTS Immigration Essays.

Many People Leave their Country to Work Abroad ielts essay

Many People Leave their Country to Work Abroad

These days many people leave their country to work abroad and take their family with them. Do you think benefits of this outweigh disadvantages in terms of family development?

Many People Leave their Country to Work Abroad Read More »

Immigration has a Major Impact on Society IELTS Essay

Immigration has a Major Impact on Society IELTS Essay

Many people are migrating to other countries each year in recent years. Immigration has a major impact on society. What are the main reasons for immigration? What consequences can it lead?

Immigration has a Major Impact on Society IELTS Essay Read More »

Start typing and press enter to search

IELTS Podcast

IELTS vocabulary about employment and immigration

Home  »  IELTS vocabulary  » IELTS vocabulary about employment and immigration

In this brand new tutorial, we dive into high scoring IELTS vocabulary , included in the tutorial is a model essay, a guide for generating ideas, and a list of collocations you can use in your next essay.

- First we look at the vocabulary list and definitions - Then we look at task 2 questions (on this topic) - After we learn how to plan your essay - Then we finish with a model IELTS task 2 essay

Grab your pen and take notes if you want to improve your writing skills!

Topic specific collocations:

employment vocabulary

Collocations and examples sentences

Refugee group: Refugee groups are coming to the United States to escape violence in their native countries.

Increased movement: The increased movement of immigrants from Mexico is due to conflict in the Mexican government.

Developing world: The developing world is struggling with economic success and employment opportunities.

Western countries: Western countries are trying to figure out how to take in more immigrants without ruining opportunities for their native people.

Public opinion: The public opinion suggests that immigrants are acceptable as long as they enter the country legally.

Middle-income countries: Middle-Income countries struggle with benefits of the rich countries and downfalls of the poor countries.

Multicultural society: A multicultural society in America is what the country was based on, which is why immigrants should be welcome.

Global situation: The global situation involves western countries not giving enough support while developing countries not progressing enough.

International community: The international community needs to come together as one in order to solve our problems.

IELTS task 2 sample questions on employment / immigration

An increasing amount of people are emigrating from third world to western countries to fill openings in special job fields like engineering, computing, and medicine. Some think that by encouraging this immigration, rich countries are stealing from the poor. Others feel that this is only a natural movement. Explain your opinion and why.

Some people believe that the government should give health care benefits to all employed people even if they are illegal immigrants. What is your view on this issue? Explain with specific reasoning. -----

Unemployment is a very serious issue in many developing nations across the world today. How can we solve the problem of unemployment in poorer nations in order to boost the economies of these countries? Explain.

In many countries, children are engaged in some kind of paid work. While some believe this to be morally wrong, others believe it builds children’s character and prepares them for the future. Which side do you agree with and why? Discuss.

Some people believe that governments should be more strict on immigration policies in order to boost employment opportunities for native citizens. Do you think this is wrong or is it a necessary move to make? Explain your position with examples.

Click here for a free master list of collocations!

Video to get ideas, 5 questions eliciting the collocations:.

1. Why did the amount of refugees into Europe spike so fast in 2015? Explain using examples and evidence.

2. Why are so many Syrians feeling the need to become refugees and fleeing their country? How does Antonio explain this in his TEDtalk? Discuss.

3. Does the presence of refugees hurt natives when it comes to employment opportunities? Or can refugees help boost the economy in the countries they inhabit? Explain.

4. How does Antonio suggest we fix the refugee problem and distribute refugees evenly across Europe? Provide examples and specific reasoning.

5. Why is it impossible for countries to try and avoid their societies becoming multiethnic, multicultural, and multi-religious? Discuss.

Sample task 2 gap fill exercise

While an increasing number of people are moving from developing countries to _______ ________ in order to pursue job opportunities, this is not a method of rich stealing from the poor, but a helpful way for people to find opportunity and success in the West.

Firstly, rich countries are not stealing from the __________ _____ by welcoming these workers, because these workers willingly choose to come to western countries in the United States and Europe. Studies show that ______ _______ agrees and believes that this _________ ________ is helpful to the ____________ _________. Both the workers and the western countries benefit from this transition. Therefore, this movement for employment is a good thing.

Secondly, the international community supports this movement because it helps the ______ _________ of people in poverty and western countries needing specialized workers. The incorporation of a _____________ _______ in the West is also helpful, because it allows everyone to benefit from the success of these booming economies. Studies show that _______ ______, even coming from ____________ _________ such as Libya, are helpful to our society if they can find work and make a difference for themselves and for rich country.

In conclusion, when people from developing countries immigrate to western countries, it should not be seen as a bad thing. It should be seen as a mutually beneficial agreement where people are able to find specialized jobs and the West is able to fill them.

Answers: 1. Western countries 2. Developing world 3. Public opinion 4. Increased movement 5. International community 6. Global situation 7. Multicultural society 8. Refugee groups 9. Middle-income countries

Sample task 2 essay

While an increasing number of people are moving from developing countries to western countries in order to pursue job opportunities, this is not a method of rich stealing from the poor, but a helpful way for people to find opportunity and success in the West.

Firstly, rich countries are not stealing from the developing world by welcoming these workers, because these workers willingly choose to come to western countries in the United States and Europe. Studies show that public opinion agrees and believes that this increased movement is helpful to the international community. Both the workers and the western countries benefit from this transition. Therefore, this movement for employment is a good thing.

Secondly, the international community supports this movement because it helps the global situation of people in poverty and western countries needing specialized workers. The incorporation of a multicultural society in the West is also helpful, because it allows everyone to benefit from the success of these booming economies. Studies show that refugee groups, even coming from middle-income countries such as Libya, are helpful to the society if they can find work and make a difference for themselves and for rich the country.

Audio tutorial

You can download or listen to the audio version here:

| Direct Download Here | Stitcher | iTunes | Spotify | Soundcloud |  Transcript |

  • Free Essay Band Score Evaluation
  • Sign up to claim your free IELTS materials
  • Jump to Band 7 or it’s Free
  • IELTS Writing Evaluation
  • IELTS Band Score Calculator
  • Book Your Online IELTS Test
  • Sample Topic Answers
  • Useful Sentences
  • Sample Task 2 Questions 2022
  • Introduction to Paraphrasing
  • Model Band 9 Essay
  • Five Band 9 Words
  • Model Band 7 Essay
  • Differences Band 9 vs Band 7 Essay
  • Band 6.5 Essay
  • Academic Collocations
  • Topic Sentences
  • Discuss Both Views
  • Tutorial: To What Extent Essays
  • Paraphrasing Introductions
  • Essay Structures
  • Essay Plans
  • Describe a Pie Chart
  • Using Percentages
  • Map Vocabulary
  • Describe Flow Charts
  • Describe a Bar Chart
  • How to get Band 9
  • AT 1 Sample Questions 2022
  • Describe a Graphic
  • GT Task 1 Questions 2022
  • IELTS Vocabulary
  • Google Play / Podcasts
  • Apple Podcast
  • Android App
  • Task 2 Sample Questions
  • AT 1 Questions

Company addresses: HK Office: BW ENGLISH SERVICES HK Ltd, Unit 2512, 25/F, Langham Place Office Tower, 8 Argyle Street, Mongkok, Hong Kong UK Office: BW ENGLISH SERVICES, 120 High Road, East Finchley, N29ED, London, England, United Kingdom ​+44 20 3951 8271 ($1/min).

  • What can IELTS do for you
  • Ways to take IELTS
  • Who accepts IELTS?
  • Sample test questions
  • IELTS Progress Check
  • IELTS Trial Test
  • Understanding your score
  • Trust IELTS
  • On test day
  • Test centres
  • IELTS One Skill Retake
  • Cancellations, refunds...
  • Access arrangements
  • Getting and sharing...
  • Improving your results
  • Academic Institutions
  • Why accept IELTS?
  • IELTS Scoring
  • Compare IELTS
  • IELTS for your sector
  • Get started with IELTS
  • Verifying IELTS results
  • Research reports
  • Test statistics​
  • Research funding
  • Awards and scholarships
  • Previously funded...
  • News and Insights

Need help finding something? Enter a search term below

IELTS for immigration

The world’s favourite English test for migration, IELTS helps thousands of people to develop the language skills they need to successfully settle in new countries. With a reputation for quality and stringent security measures, we provide governments with English language test results you can trust.

Red pen on a white desk

The world’s test of choice

The world’s number one test for work and migration. IELTS is the only English language test that is trusted by all four of the Australian, Canadian, New Zealand, and UK governments.

Language tests you can trust

For more than 30 years, IELTS has set the standard for English language testing.

Systems and safeguards

IELTS is subject to the highest quality controls. Our stringent security measures and verification safeguards protect the interests of government departments that rely on the integrity of test results.

Professional assessment

Every test is assessed by qualified Examiners who undergo rigorous training and continuous monitoring.

Research backed

IELTS tests are based on decades of rigorous academic research .

Reliable results

Selected results are marked twice, to ensure consistent evaluation of all tests.

Support icon

IELTS support

Join countries across the globe who trust IELTS for their English language assessment.

Verification icon

IELTS Results Service

Organisations that accept IELTS are given access to the IELTS Results Service. Secure, free, and simple to use, it helps to ensure the accuracy and validity of applications.

Books icon

IELTS offers two main tests: IELTS Academic and IELTS General Training, giving you the flexibility to evaluate candidates based on specific entry requirements.

Got a question icon

Get in touch

If you have a question about IELTS or if you are interested in finding out more about our English language tests, please get in touch, our team will be happy to help.

  • Accessibility
  • Legal & policies

2024. IELTS is jointly owned by the British Council; IDP IELTS; and Cambridge University Press & Assessment

  • Immigration

What New York’s First Migrant Crisis Can Teach Us About Immigration Today

Emigrants Sail For USA

N ew York City, according to some of its leaders, is being “overwhelmed” as never before by migrants. Their sheer numbers, and the costs of housing and feeding them, has triggered an unprecedented crisis. Everywhere one looks, it seems, “lazy” newcomers congregate on street corners, in parks, and in front of shelters. They appear to have “no plan, and no energy to form one.”  Rather than support themselves, they beg or steal or seek charity and government handouts. Many say that the New York they know and love will be “destroyed” unless the border is somehow sealed or the migrants can be sent elsewhere.

New York in 2024? No, this was New York in 1854, after hundreds of thousands of refugees from Ireland’s Great Famine flooded into New York City. In 1845, when a mysterious blight first began decimating Ireland’s potato crop, New York City (then just Manhattan Island) had a population of 350,000. Over the ensuing decade, a million refugees fleeing the Irish Famine landed in lower Manhattan, disembarking half-starved from sailing ships that took 35 days to cross the Atlantic. Not all of these migrants settled permanently in New York, but about half of them did, at least for a while.  As a result, in 10 years, New York’s population nearly doubled. While today’s “migrants” make up no more than 2% of the city’s population, in 1855 one out of every four New Yorkers was an Irish Famine refugee.

Ireland’s Great Famine precipitated the United States’ original migrant crisis. Yet even though the scale of that crisis dwarfed this one, New York managed it successfully. How we handled the migrant crisis of 1854 can teach us a lot about how to navigate our way through the migrant surge of 2024.

First, don’t believe the doomsday predictions. Every major wave of newcomers has precipitated some degree of panic from native-born Americans. Yet the U.S. has always managed to absorb each new group and benefit from their presence. The Irish, it was said, would ruin America because it was impossible to be both a Catholic and a patriotic American. Catholics had to follow the orders of their priests (and ultimately the Pope), contended Protestants, and therefore did not have the freedom of thought necessary to vote wisely to protect and perpetuate a democracy. Furthermore, all the rich nations of the world were Protestant, these Americans insisted. “Lazy” Irishmen accustomed to poverty would surely impoverish the U.S. as well. Yet neither these dire predictions, nor the many others made about the Famine Irish, came to pass. Instead, the Irish thrived. Many climbed quickly up the socioeconomic ladder, while others provided the manual labor that allowed the U.S. to become an economic dynamo.

Read More: The Current Migrant Crisis Is a Collective Trauma

Second, don’t be duped by the fallacy that today’s migrants aren’t “waiting in line” to get a visa to immigrate to the U.S. like previous generations did. In truth, very few native-born Americans today have ancestors who waited in such a line. There was none for the Famine Irish. They simply bought ship tickets and sailed to America. They did not need passports or visas or any form of identification or anyone’s permission to come here.  When their ships landed in New York, they just walked down the gangplanks and began their new lives in America—no government official inspected or questioned them or even recorded their arrival (the ship manifests one can find online these days were compiled by the shipping lines, not the government). Only beginning in the 1920s, when Congress reduced immigration to a trickle, did the U.S. require immigrants to obtain prior permission to settle in America. Unless your forebearers are Asian or Latino, your immigrant ancestors probably did not “wait their turn” to come to U.S.

Third, it is important not to interfere with the migrants’ desire to cultivate and foster their own self-help networks. Americans might think that newcomers haphazardly decide where to settle and what jobs to take, but nothing could be further from the truth. In the case of the Irish in the 1850s, those from one part of County Donegal  immigrated to New York, but folks from other parts of Donegal settled overwhelmingly in the eastern Pennsylvania coal mining region.  In each American locale, the newcomers’ friends and families housed the new arrivals  and found them jobs. Yet today’s policies inhibit such self-help networks. When Governors Greg Abbott and Ron DeSantis randomly bus migrants all across the nation, it prevents the newcomers from joining the very compatriots who will enable them to quickly become self-sufficient.

Finally, we need to let the migrants work. Tens of thousands of Irish Famine migrants initially became dependent on charities and the government for food and shelter. Yet the Irish migrants quickly became self-supporting because, like all immigrant groups before and since, they worked incredibly hard. The Famine immigrants commonly worked multiple shifts or multiple jobs to support starving family members who remained in Ireland and to save money to start their own businesses. Today’s migrants can’t follow this tradition (and pay the taxes such work would generate) because American asylum law now bans them from working in the U.S. during their first 180 days in America. Only at that point can they apply for permission to work, which can take months longer to be granted (though migrants from a few countries, such as Cuba, receive expedited work permits). The sooner we let today’s migrants work, the sooner they will cease to be a burden on public resources and start to become the solution to the labor shortages plaguing so many parts of the U.S.

“By all obvious reasoning the advent of the Irish should have been a failure,” commented a New Orleans newspaper, the City Item , a quarter century after the Irish migrant crisis had subsided. Not only were the Irish “not welcomed,” the paper recounted, they were “reviled.” Yet “step by step, they advanced,” until a generation later the Irish had achieved “miraculous” economic prosperity. Every subsequent generation of immigrants has done the same, and there is no reason to believe that today’s migrants will be any different. It took longer than a generation for the Irish to gain social acceptance, and that will be a lengthy process for today’s migrants too. But if we use America’s first refugee crisis as a guide, today’s migrants can become just as much a boon to the U.S. as were the Irish—if we let them.

More Must-Reads From TIME

  • Biden’s Campaign Is In Trouble. Will the Turnaround Plan Work?
  • Why We're Spending So Much Money Now
  • The Financial Influencers Women Actually Want to Listen To
  • Breaker Sunny Choi Is Heading to Paris
  • The UAE Is on a Mission to Become an AI Power
  • Why TV Can’t Stop Making Silly Shows About Lady Journalists
  • The Case for Wearing Shoes in the House
  • Want Weekly Recs on What to Watch, Read, and More? Sign Up for Worth Your Time

Contact us at [email protected]

You May Also Like

  • Share full article

Advertisement

Subscriber-only Newsletter

Paul Krugman

Are immigrants the secret to america’s economic success.

A photo illustration in which a yellow hard hat stamped with many passport stamps sits against a blue background.

By Paul Krugman

Opinion Columnist

When we accuse a politician of dehumanizing some ethnic group, we’re usually being metaphorical. The other day, however, Donald Trump said it straight out : Some migrants are “not people, in my opinion.”

Well, in my opinion, they are people. I’d still say that even if the migrant crime wave Trump and his allies harp on were real, and not a figment of their imagination (violent crime has in fact been plummeting in many cities). And I’d say it even if there weren’t growing evidence that immigration is helping the U.S. economy — indeed, that it may be a major reason for our surprising economic success.

But as it happens, there is a lot of evidence to that effect.

Some background here: When Covid struck, there were widespread concerns that it might lead to long-term economic “ scarring .” Millions of workers were laid off; how many of them would either depart the labor force permanently or lose valuable skills? Investment and new business formation fell. It seemed plausible that even after the worst of the pandemic was behind us, America would have a smaller, less productive work force than previously expected.

None of that happened. If we compare the current state of the U.S. economy with Congressional Budget Office projections made just before the pandemic, we find that real G.D.P. has risen by about a percentage point more than expected, while employment exceeds its projected level by 2.9 million workers.

How did we do that? American workers and businesses turned out to be more resilient and adaptable than they were given credit for. Also, our policymakers didn’t make the mistakes that followed the 2008 financial crisis, when an underpowered fiscal stimulus was followed by a premature turn to austerity that delayed a full recovery for many years. Instead, the Biden administration went big on spending, probably contributing to a temporary burst of inflation but also helping to ensure rapid recovery — and at this point the inflation has largely faded away while the recovery remains.

Beyond that, the very surge in immigration that has nativists so upset has played a big role in increasing the economy’s potential.

The budget office recently upgraded its medium-term economic projections, largely because it believes that increased immigration will add to the work force. It estimates that the immigration surge will add about 2 percent to real G.D.P. by 2034.

But are immigrants taking jobs away from native-born Americans? No. A recent analysis by Goldman Sachs contains this really interesting chart:

In case you’re wondering, “SA by GS” refers to the fact that official data aren’t adjusted for seasonal fluctuations, so Goldman Sachs has done its own seasonal adjustment.

This chart shows no rise in native-born unemployment during the immigration surge. It does show a rise in foreign-born unemployment, which I’ll come back to. But for now let’s just note that there is no good evidence that immigrants are taking away jobs from workers born in America.

Still, doesn’t immigration put downward pressure on wages? That sounds as if it could be true — in particular, you might think that immigrants with relatively little formal education compete with less educated native-born workers. I used to believe this myself.

But many (although not all) academic studies find that immigration has little effect on the wages of native-born workers, even when those workers have similar education levels. Instead of being substitutes for native-born workers, immigrants often seem to complement them, bringing different skills and concentrating in different occupations.

In some ways the current immigration surge, probably consisting mainly of less educated workers (especially among the undocumented), is a test case. Have wages for lower-wage workers declined? On the contrary, what we’ve seen recently is a surprising move toward wage equality, with big gains at the bottom :

Overall, then, immigration appears to have been a big plus for U.S. economic growth, among other things expanding our productive capacity in a way that reduced the inflationary impact of Biden’s spending programs.

It’s also important to realize that immigration, if it continues (and if a future Trump administration doesn’t round up millions of people for deportation), will help pay for Social Security and Medicare. C.B.O. expects 91 percent of adult immigrants between 2022 and 2034 to be under 55, compared with 62 percent for the overall population. That means a substantial number of additional workers paying into the system without collecting retirement benefits for many years.

Finally, let me return to that Goldman Sachs chart on unemployment rates, which shows no rise in unemployment among the native-born but a significant rise among the foreign-born. Believe it or not, that’s probably good news.

Goldman argues that the rise in foreign-born unemployment reflects a longstanding tendency for recent immigrants to have relatively high unemployment, presumably because it takes some time for many of them to get settled into sustained employment; unemployment is much lower among immigrants who have been here three years or more.

Why is this probably good news? The overall U.S. unemployment rate has crept up recently — not enough to trigger the Sahm rule , which links rising unemployment to recessions, but enough to make me and others a bit nervous .

Goldman argues, however, that this time is different. All of the rise in unemployment is among foreign-born workers — and this, they suggest, means that we aren’t seeing the kind of weakening in demand for labor that presages recessions. What we’re seeing instead, they argue, is an increase in labor supply, with many of the new workers taking some time to find their feet. If so, the Sahm rule, which has been spectacularly successful in the past, may currently be misleading.

I hope they’re right.

The bottom line is that while America’s immigration system is dysfunctional and really needs more resources — resources it would be getting if Republicans, pushed by Trump, hadn’t turned their backs on a bill they helped devise — the recent surge in immigration has actually been good for the economy so far, and gives us reason to be more optimistic about the future.

A summary of that Goldman Sachs study.

Another time dark-skinned immigrants (that is, Italians) were accused of fostering violent crime .

There are more bad economists — in the sense of being bad people — than I would ever have suspected.

New business creation is surging .

Facing the Music

“Dune: Part Two” is terrific, but I wanted more Sardaukar chanting .

Paul Krugman has been an Opinion columnist since 2000 and is also a distinguished professor at the City University of New York Graduate Center. He won the 2008 Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Sciences for his work on international trade and economic geography. @ PaulKrugman

IMAGES

  1. IELTS Essay Topic Immigration Archives

    immigration essay in ielts

  2. IELTS Sample Essay Topics 2020 Band 9

    immigration essay in ielts

  3. Understanding IELTS Writing Task 2 Essay Types: Tips & Strategies

    immigration essay in ielts

  4. IELTS Sample Essay Topics 2020 Band 9

    immigration essay in ielts

  5. The main reason for migration: Multiple Charts and Graphs Essay Modal

    immigration essay in ielts

  6. IELTS Task 1 Essay: British Emigration

    immigration essay in ielts

COMMENTS

  1. IELTS Writing band 9 sample: immigration

    So even simple, but well-written arguments can often give you a band 9 writing. In this essay you're asked about: Reasons why people immigrate. Results of immigration. Some of the possible arguments: Reasons of immigration: People want to live in a safe country. People search better jobs with higher salaries. People escape from wars/disasters.

  2. Immigration Topic [IELTS Writing Task 2]

    Today we're going to look at a typical IELTS writing task 2 question about immigration. I will show you how to analyze the question, generate ideas and examples, structure your essay, and then finally write it.This question type is "discuss both views" but remember that the topic of immigration could be addressed in various ways for IELTS writing task 2.

  3. Immigration has a Major Impact on Society IELTS Essay

    Immigration and Consequences IELTS Writing Task 2. Immigration has a significant impact on the contemporary society. Each year, more and more people from all over the world decide to leave their home countries and move to another place. This essay will examine the reasons and the consequences of immigration.

  4. IELTS Essay # 1328

    Model Answer 2: Immigration has emerged as a significant global phenomenon, shaping societies and cultures worldwide. People migrate to other countries for various reasons, and this has profound consequences for both the migrants and the host countries. This essay will explore the main reasons for immigration and discuss the consequences it can ...

  5. Immigration Essays

    Immigration Essays. More and more qualified people are moving from poor to rich countries to fill vacancies in specialist areas like engineering, computing, and medicine. Some people believe that by encouraging the movement of such people rich countries are stealing from poor countries. Others feel that this is only part of the natural movement ...

  6. IELTS24

    Migration and Immigration. Achieve excellence in Migration and Immigration essays for IELTS with IELTS24. Expert questions and model essays guide your test preparation journey. Some people argue that life in big cities is becoming more challenging, while others contend it is getting easier. Discuss both viewpoints and give your own opinion Do ...

  7. 50 Latest Immigration IELTS Topics

    Explain your opinion and why. The given chart shows the number of immigration and emigration in the UK from 1999 to 2008. • In the 30 years the world has seen an increase in immigration. Many people point out the benefits of this, whereas others believe the negatives outweigh the positives.

  8. Essay 139

    Many people claim that immigration exerts a tremendous impact on social changes. There are several reasons for which people migrate to a different country. This essay will first explain why people migrate to another country and then focuses on the consequences of this phenomenon to the host country. People immigrate for several reasons, ranging ...

  9. IELTS Writing Task 1: sample essay (migration)

    Net migration peaked at almost 250,000 people in 2004. After 2004, the rate of immigration remained high, but the number of people emigrating fluctuated. Emigration fell suddenly in 2007, before peaking at about 420,000 people in 2008. As a result, the net migration figure rose to around 240,000 in 2007, but fell back to around 160,000 in 2008.

  10. IELTS Common Essay Topic: Immigration and Migration

    April 26, 2023. IELTS Common Essay Topic: Immigration and Migration. Immigration: Immigration is when people move from their native place to another permanently. Immigrants do not return back to their native places, they settle down there. Migration: Migration is when people move from one place to another. In this case, migrant come back to ...

  11. IELTS Essays 10

    IELTS Sample Essay 10 - No Restrictions on Immigration. Emigration is a natural consequence of an individual's desire to improve their lives. Therefore there should be no restrictions on international migration. To what extent do you agree or disagree with this statement? One of the central premises of emigrating is to improve quality of ...

  12. IELTS Writing Task 2: 'immigration' topic

    Immigration has a significant impact on the contemporary society. Each year, more and more people from all over the world decide to leave their home countries and move to another place. In my view, the main reason of immigration is a strong desire of better life quality and safe future.

  13. Immigration has a major impact on the society

    Over the years, many societies have been significantly impacted by immigration. The numbers of people migrating to developed. countries. are increasing continuously. This. essay will examine the cause of migration to other places, followed by an explanation for the consequences of. this. phenomenon. There are multiple reasons why people move to ...

  14. 50 Latest Migration IELTS Topics

    50 Latest Migration IELTS Topics. Get a band score and detailed report instantly. Check your IELTS essays right now! The chart shows British Emigration to selected destinations between 2004 and 2007. Write a report for a university, lecturer describing the information shown below.

  15. Immigration has a major impact on the society (Band 9 Essay)

    Sample Essay 1. Immigration undeniably wields a profound influence on society, propelled by multifaceted motivations and yielding a spectrum of repercussions. At the heart of this phenomenon lies a quest for better opportunities, escape from persecution, or familial reunification. This essay aims to unpack the primary catalysts for immigration ...

  16. Problem Solution Essay Example: Immigration

    Problem Solution Essay Example: Immigration. This problem solution essay example is about the issue of professionals leaving their own developing countries to go and work abroad in more developed countries. This is the question: An increasing number of professionals, such as doctors and teachers, are leaving their own poorer countries to work ...

  17. Essay 90

    Model Answer: These days, millions of people across the world are moving to other countries for a better quality of life and to avoid war and conflicts. Immigration exerts tremendous impacts on society- both for the host and origin countries. Several factors contribute to the recent wave of migration. The most prominent reason is the dream to ...

  18. IELTS Task 1: UK Immigration and Emigration

    This is an IELTS writing task 1 sample answer essay on the topic of UK immigration and emigration. You can also get my full IELTS EBooks below: Full IELTS EBooks on Patreon. Dave. IELTS Task 1: UK Immigration and Emigration. The pie charts detail the rationales for immigration to and emigration from the UK in 2007.

  19. IELTS Task 1 Essay: British Emigration

    1. The bar chart provides information comparing emigration out of the UK to 5 countries. 2. Looking from an overall perspective, it is readily apparent that emigration to Australia was most common throughout the period. 3. Besides Australia, all countries saw decreases in the number of British immigrants. Paraphrase the overall essay topic.

  20. IELTS Essay Topics with sample answer

    IELTS Writing Task 2/ IELTS Essay: You should spend about 40 minutes on this task. ... Immigration with the aim of achieving better lifestyle has become one of the most considerable discussions among developed countries, over recent decades. To clarify, this phenomenon has widely led to serious threats to hosts from a diversity of aspects which ...

  21. IELTS Essay Topic Immigration Archives

    Immigration has a Major Impact on Society IELTS Essay Writing Task 2 , Recent Exams / May 12, 2022 Many people are migrating to other countries each year in recent years.

  22. Employment

    IELTS vocabulary about employment and immigration. In this brand new tutorial, we dive into high scoring IELTS vocabulary, included in the tutorial is a model essay, a guide for generating ideas, and a list of collocations you can use in your next essay. Grab your pen and take notes if you want to improve your writing skills!

  23. IELTS

    IELTS for immigration. The world's favourite English test for migration, IELTS helps thousands of people to develop the language skills they need to successfully settle in new countries. With a reputation for quality and stringent security measures, we provide governments with English language test results you can trust.

  24. What We Can Learn from the Irish Famine Migrant Crisis

    America's handling of the Irish Famine migrant crisis in the 1850s is a guide for immigration today, writes Tyler Anbinder.

  25. 5 Takeaways From Nikole Hannah-Jones's Essay on 'Colorblindness' and

    Five Takeaways From Nikole Hannah-Jones's Essay on the 'Colorblindness' Trap. How a 50-year campaign has undermined the progress of the civil rights movement. Share full article.

  26. Are Immigrants the Secret to America's Economic Success?

    When we accuse a politician of dehumanizing some ethnic group, we're usually being metaphorical. The other day, however, Donald Trump said it straight out: Some migrants are "not people, in my ...