IELTS Task 2: Impact of Immigration on Economy — Band 6-9

Introduction

Immigration is a perennial IELTS Writing Task 2 topic because it touches the economy, labour markets, and public services—issues that exam writers regularly test. If you want a higher band score, you must discuss economic trade-offs clearly, use precise vocabulary, and structure arguments logically. In this guide, you will learn how to respond to a common immigration-economy prompt with three full sample essays (Band 8-9, Band 6.5-7, and Band 5-6), scoring analyses, target vocabulary, and high-scoring sentence structures tailored for the topic “The impact of immigration on economy.”

Reported Task 2 questions on this theme include:

• Many countries employ large numbers of foreign workers. Some people believe this benefits national economies, while others think it creates unemployment and social problems. Discuss both views and give your opinion.
• In some countries, immigration is encouraged to address labour shortages. Do the advantages of this trend outweigh the disadvantages?
• Some people argue that immigration puts pressure on public services and depresses wages, while others believe it boosts innovation and growth. Discuss both views and give your opinion.

For a concise primer that complements this lesson, you can also review a focused overview of the impact of immigration on the economy.

IELTS Task 2 immigration economy topic strategies and sample ideas

1. Question & Analysis

Many countries employ large numbers of foreign workers. Some people believe this benefits national economies, while others think it creates unemployment and social problems. Discuss both views and give your opinion.

• Question type: Discuss both views + opinion.
• Requirements: Present both sides (economic benefits vs. unemployment/social strain), then state a clear position with justified reasons and relevant examples.
• Key terms:
  • “Benefits national economies”: productivity, innovation, tax revenue, demographic balance, sectoral labour gaps.
  • “Unemployment and social problems”: wage competition, job displacement, pressure on housing, schools, healthcare.
• Common pitfalls:
  • One-sided response or unclear opinion.
  • Over-generalisation (“immigration is always good/bad”).
  • Unbalanced development (e.g., two long paragraphs for one side, one short for the other).
  • Excessive statistics or political claims without credible support.
• Strategic approach:
  • Define scope: economic impacts in both the short and long term.
  • Organise by mechanisms: labour supply, productivity, entrepreneurship, fiscal effects, and public-service capacity.
  • Use precise topic sentences and concrete examples (e.g., healthcare workers in ageing societies; construction and agriculture in labour-scarce regions).
  • Conclude with a balanced, solutions-oriented opinion.

To extend your understanding of sectoral effects and long-run growth channels, you may compare arguments with this explainer on the impact of immigration on the economy, which echoes many of the mechanisms discussed here.

2. Band 8-9 Sample Essay

Band 8-9 essays present a clear, nuanced position, sustain it with well-selected examples, and show precise control of high-level vocabulary and complex grammar.

Immigration often provokes heated debate, yet its economic effects are neither universally benign nor uniformly harmful. Proponents argue that foreign workers plug labour shortages, allowing firms to expand output without bidding up wages excessively. This can be especially true in sectors shunned by locals due to low status or harsh conditions, such as eldercare, agriculture, and construction, where migrants keep essential services functioning. Moreover, newcomers may raise productivity by bringing complementary skills, international networks, and a culture of entrepreneurship that stimulates job creation.

Critics, however, warn of wage suppression at the bottom of the income distribution and potential displacement of domestic workers. Where integration policies are weak, sudden inflows can strain public services—housing, classrooms, and clinics—causing friction in host communities. These concerns deserve serious attention, particularly in regions with slack demand or inadequate infrastructure.

Even so, the aggregate picture tends to be positive when immigration is managed intelligently. First, many advanced economies face ageing populations; migrants expand the tax base and support pension systems, mitigating demographic headwinds. Second, research consistently shows that the long-run impact on average native wages is small and often positive, as tasks are reallocated and firms invest in capital. Finally, targeted policies—such as minimum standards enforcement, local training subsidies, and sequenced settlement plans—can protect vulnerable workers while preserving economic gains.

In my view, countries should maintain immigration channels that are responsive to labour-market data and invest in integration capacity. When inflows are aligned with skill needs and public services scale accordingly, economies harness migrants’ contributions without ignoring social pressures. The goal is not maximal openness or rigid closure, but flexible openness backed by institutions.

Band Score Analysis

Why this essay excels:

• Establishes a nuanced thesis in the first sentence.
• Uses sector-specific examples (eldercare, agriculture, construction).
• Balances macro (demographics, productivity) and micro (wage effects) arguments.
• Employs advanced, accurate collocations.
• Demonstrates solution-focused thinking (policy levers, integration capacity).
• Maintains clear paragraph unity and cohesion.

For readers exploring how diversity and innovation link to growth, note the parallels with the importance of cultural diversity in economic development, which reinforces the productivity and entrepreneurship pathways discussed above.

Band 9 immigration and economy essay structure with key transitions

3. Band 6.5-7 Sample Essay

Band 6.5-7 essays are generally clear and relevant, but may have uneven development, occasional word-choice inaccuracy, or limited flexibility in grammar.

Some people think immigration is good for the economy because it fills jobs and brings new ideas, while others worry it causes unemployment and pressure on services. In my opinion, immigration usually helps growth, but the government needs to manage the pace carefully.

On the positive side, foreign workers can solve immediate labour shortages. For example, in healthcare and agriculture, employers often struggle to hire enough staff. Migrants allow companies to continue operating and may also pay taxes that support public budgets. In addition, people who move countries often start small businesses, which can create jobs for locals.

On the other hand, there are legitimate concerns. If a large number of migrants arrive suddenly in one city, rents can rise and classrooms become crowded. Low-skilled local workers may face tougher competition for basic jobs, at least in the short term. These problems are real for certain communities, and they should not be ignored.

Overall, however, the national effect tends to be positive when policies are sensible. Governments can require fair labour standards to prevent wage dumping, invest in housing and schools in high-immigration areas, and use labour-market data to decide visa numbers. With such measures, countries benefit from migrants’ energy and skills while protecting vulnerable citizens.

In conclusion, immigration is not a magic solution and can bring challenges, but if authorities plan capacity and enforce rules, the economic benefits are likely to outweigh the drawbacks.

Band Score Analysis

Direct comparison with Band 8-9:

• Precision: Band 8-9 uses “task reallocation” and “sequenced settlement plans”; Band 7 uses “plan capacity” and “enforce rules.”
• Development: Band 8-9 explains mechanisms (demographics, productivity); Band 7 states benefits without technical depth.
• Cohesion: Band 8-9 builds logical chains; Band 7 relies on basic transitions.

Comparison of Band 7 vs Band 9 immigration essays highlighting differences

4. Band 5-6 Sample Essay

Band 5-6 essays respond to the task but have noticeable issues: unclear position at times, repetition, limited vocabulary, and grammar mistakes that may reduce clarity.

Some people say immigration is good for the economy, but others say it is bad. In my opinion immigration is sometimes good and sometimes bad because it depends. Migrants can take jobs that local people do not want, like farm work and cleaning, and this is helpful for business. Also they pays taxes which can support hospitals and schools.

However, immigration can cause problems too. If there is too many migrants coming to one area, it can be hard to find cheap housing. Some citizens think that goverment is not controlling the border enough and this make them angry. Also, wages are go down for workers with low skills, which is unfair. On the other hand, immigrants are hardworking peoples and they should be supported, so it is confusing to decide.

In conclusion, immigration has many effect on economy. The best way is make balance: allow some immigration but not too much. If the rules is clear and enforced, then maybe everyone will be satisfy and the economy will be better.

Band Score Analysis

Learning from Mistakes

How to improve from Band 6 to 7:

• Commit to a clear stance and maintain it throughout.
• Use accurate academic collocations (e.g., “strike a balance,” “enforce labour standards”).
• Vary complex structures: relative clauses, conditionals, and participle phrases.
• Proofread for basic agreement and article errors.

For readers interested in how financial inclusion interacts with migrant outcomes and local economies, a related angle is the importance of credit unions for borrowers, which illustrates how access to finance can stabilise communities during demographic change.

5. Essential Vocabulary

6. High-Scoring Sentence Structures

1. Complex subordination (although / even if / while)

• Formula: Subordinator + clause, main clause.
• Example: Even so, the aggregate picture tends to be positive when immigration is managed intelligently.
• Why it scores well: Signals nuanced stance and time/condition.
• More examples:
  • Although inflows can pressure schools, investment can offset this.
  • While some wages stagnate initially, productivity may later rise.
• Common mistake: Misplacing commas or using “despite” with a full clause.

2. Non-defining relative clauses

• Formula: Noun, which/who + extra information, main clause.
• Example: Migrants expand the tax base, which supports pension systems.
• Why: Adds detail without breaking flow.
• More: Firms hire seasonal workers, which keeps prices stable. Healthcare staff, who are in short supply, often arrive on targeted visas.
• Mistake: Omitting commas or using “that” instead of “which.”

3. Participle phrases

• Formula: -ing/-ed phrase, main clause.
• Example: Bringing complementary skills, newcomers can raise productivity.
• Why: Condenses cause-effect relationships.
• More: Faced with labour gaps, governments adjust visas. Driven by demand, cities expand training.
• Mistake: Dangling participles not logically linked to the subject.

4. Cleft sentences (emphasis)

• Formula: It + be + focus + that/who + clause.
• Example: It is flexible openness backed by institutions that delivers sustainable gains.
• Why: Highlights key idea emphatically.
• More: It is targeted training that protects vulnerable workers. It is demographic reality that forces reform.
• Mistake: Overusing clefts makes prose heavy.

5. Advanced conditionals

• Formula: If + present, modal + base; If + past, would + base.
• Example: If inflows are aligned with skill needs, economies harness contributions.
• Why: Shows control over hypothetical reasoning.
• More: If governments underinvest, tensions will rise. If authorities had planned capacity earlier, rents might not have spiked.
• Mistake: Mixing tenses in conditional pairs.

6. Inversion for emphasis

• Formula: Rarely/Seldom/Never + auxiliary + subject + verb.
• Example: Rarely do aggregate studies find large negative wage effects.
• Why: Sophisticated emphasis; band-descriptor friendly.
• More: Only then did productivity improve. Not until investment rose did tensions ease.
• Mistake: Forgetting to invert the auxiliary and subject.

7. Self-Assessment Checklist

Before writing:

• Identify question type (agree/disagree, discuss both, advantages/disadvantages).
• Underline key terms (economy, unemployment, public services).
• Decide your position and select two mechanisms per side.

While writing:

• Use clear topic sentences per paragraph.
• Balance both views before your opinion (for “discuss both views”).
• Integrate examples relevant to your context (e.g., healthcare, construction).

After writing:

• Check thesis consistency with the conclusion.
• Proofread for S-V agreement, articles, and collocations.
• Ensure 250+ words and clear paragraphing.

Time management tips:

• 5 minutes plan: outline ideas and examples.
• 30 minutes write: two body paragraphs + intro/conclusion.
• 5 minutes edit: grammar, cohesion, and word choice.

Conclusion

Mastering IELTS Writing Task 2 on The impact of immigration on economy requires balance: demonstrate the benefits (productivity, demographics, entrepreneurship) while acknowledging costs (wage competition, service strain) and proposing realistic policy solutions. Progress from Band 6 to 7 by clarifying your stance, upgrading collocations, and varying complex structures; reaching Band 8-9 demands precise mechanisms and seamless cohesion. A practical next step is to draft your own response to today’s prompt and compare it against the sample essays above—then revise using the checklists. For another angle and practice ideas, you can read this concise treatment of the impact of immigration on the economy. Share your essay, reflect on feedback, and aim for incremental gains over 4–6 weeks of consistent practice. For related reading on diversity-led growth dynamics, see the earlier discussion linked to cultural diversity in development.