David Kalanzi
Justice, Institutions and Social Change
Main supervisor: Prof Eleonore Kofman
Second supervisor: Dr Nico Pizzolato
Research project title: An examination of the of intersecting legal frameworks and migration discourses that shape precarity among highly skilled immigrant workers in UK.
Research description: Highly skilled migrant workers are the engine of the UK’s innovation, productivity, and global reputation. They bring expertise, creativity, and fresh ideas that strengthen our economy and enrich our society. Without them, the UK risks losing its competitiveness in the world of technology, research, finance, and many other sectors.
But behind the success stories is a hidden truth. Many of these highly skilled professionals face real insecurity. They navigate complex immigration rules, workplace pressures, and social challenges that can threaten their careers, earnings, and overall wellbeing. Their legal status can be uncertain. Their access to opportunities is not always equal. And the very policies designed to welcome them can sometimes create barriers.
Scouring through academic literature, it is evident that there is a wealth of research on the precarity faced by low-skilled migrant workers. Their challenges are well-documented and widely discussed. In contrast, the specific vulnerabilities of highly skilled migrants have received far less attention, leaving important gaps in our understanding of precarity among this critical group. Any anecdotal studies available often take a narrow approach, focusing on one area at a time such as immigration law or workplace rights, without looking at how different aspects interact to shape precarity. This leaves policymakers and organisations without the full picture they need to respond effectively.
My project aims to make a contribution to addressing this gap. I will examine how laws on immigration, employment, corporate governance, and welfare intersect, and how gaps in these frameworks, alongside social policies, shape the precarity among highly skilled migrant workers in the UK. By exploring these connections, I hope to shed light on the real causes of job insecurity, stalled career progression, and unfair treatment in this important part of the workforce.
My approach is practical and centred on people’s lived experiences. I will speak directly to those affected, including highly skilled migrants, HR professionals, business leaders, trade union representatives, and policymakers. I will combine these insights with a close review of legal texts, social policy documents, and public debate analysis. This combination of perspectives will help produce evidence that can inform better policy and workplace practice.
The findings will be shared with academics, policymakers, employers, advocacy groups, and the public. While this project alone cannot solve all the challenges faced by highly skilled migrants, it contribute valuable evidence to ongoing conversations about fairness, equality, and the UK’s competitiveness in the global talent market.
This research has been partially funded by a studentship from the South and East Network for Social Sciences (SENSS), whose commitment to supporting projects that address real-world challenges makes work like mine possible. SENSS support will allow me to dedicate more time and focus to this project. This means I can engage more closely with participants, carry out deeper analysis, and produce research of higher quality. Better research will not only help highlight the real challenges faced by highly skilled migrants but also provide evidence that can guide fairer policies and workplace practices. In this way, SENSS support will translate into findings that matter for individuals whose careers and wellbeing are at stake, while also contributing to the UK’s wider competitiveness in attracting and retaining global talent.
Twitter/X: @davidkalanzi
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/davidkalanzi
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/K07894435745