The line graph illustrates the intended length of stay of immigrants to the UK between 2000 and 2008, while the pie chart shows the reasons for migration in 2008.
Overall, the number of immigrants planning to stay for up to two years increased markedly over the period and became the largest group from 2003 onwards, whereas the figure for those intending to remain for four years or more was relatively stable. By contrast, the two-to-four-year category remained the smallest throughout. In 2008, employment and education were by far the two most common reasons for migrating to the UK.
Regarding the intended duration of stay, approximately 150,000 immigrants planned to remain in the UK for either up to two years or four years or more in 2000. While the latter figure stayed almost unchanged at around 150,000 throughout the nine-year period, the former rose steadily to 200,000 in 2003 before reaching 250,000 in 2004. It then levelled off, remaining at roughly this figure until 2008. Meanwhile, the number of people intending to stay for between two and four years was consistently the lowest, fluctuating between 50,000 and 70,000 before climbing to 100,000 in the final year.
Turning to the reasons for migration in 2008, work was the leading motive, accounting for 38% of all immigrants, followed by study at 32%. Accompanying or joining family members represented a considerably smaller proportion, at 16%, while the remaining respondents were evenly divided between other reasons and no reason stated, with each category making up 7% of the total.