Towns that voted against immigration now can't find workers

Post-industrial towns that backed immigration restrictions in 2016 face a practical problem: farms, care homes, and restaurants can't fill jobs. Non-EU migration dropped 161,000 to 350,000 in 2025 under visa restrictions. Local workers haven't stepped into these roles, and wages are too low to attract them. The result: what voters wanted and what their economies need remain in tension.