Making a move: Immigration expected to be key election issue

A look ahead to polling day 2026

This year the Manx public will head to the polls for the 2026 House of Keys General Election.

Manx Radio recently asked listeners which subjects are most important to them ahead of polling day.

Among the top issues identified, alongside government accountability and cost of living, is immigration, so let's look back over the past five years.

Population growth and inward migration

Early in Alfred Cannan's administration we saw the publication of the economic strategy - the first, draft edition of which, highlighted aims to grow the Island's population to 100,000 by 2037.

Currently there are an estimated 84,975 people living on the Island.

Find more on the economic strategy HERE.

Government says the route to that level of growth is through 'actively investing in key services & infrastructure that attract and retain economically active people.'

Meanwhile, the latest population report shows that the overall total has grown by less than a thousand since the last general election in 2021. 

A breakdown of the sectors employing the largest number of residents, new to or returning to the Isle of Man in 2024, showed the majority - 18 percent - were entering the field of Medical and Health.

"For most of them the priority is safety, bringing up their children in a safe place."

So, what's it like for the people who make that move here?

Sylvie Géal-Wilkes works at Café Lingo in Douglas - a group which supports people who've made the move to the Isle of Man from all over the world:

On inward migration, The Department for Enterprise says: 'Promotional recruitment campaigns by Locate Isle of Man are strategically designed based on economic demand and industry insights. These initiatives aim to address the shortages in skilled workers that cannot be filled by the local labour market.

'The government remains committed to maintaining robust immigration pathways, thereby enabling businesses to attract and retain the necessary skilled workforce when local resources are insufficient.

'It is important to clarify that the Economic Strategy does not seek to reach a population growth target of ‘100,000’ population. Rather, it was referenced in the four economic ambitions including the aim to create and fill 5,000 new jobs across new, enabling and existing sectors by 2032, and to further develop the services and infrastructure to plan for an estimated population of 100,000 by 2037. Since September 2021, the economy has seen persons employed increase by 1,500, aligning to the overall 5,000 new jobs targets.'

Residents on the Isle of Man will go to the polls on 24 September 2026.

Listen to the full interview with Sylvie Géal-Wilkes in the Manx Radio Newscast below: