Page 10 - Gi flipbook - October 2018

NEWS | MANAGEMENT

Drop in EU migration ‘nothing to

celebrate’ for employers

THE NUMBER of EU citizens
coming to the UK for a job
has fallen ahead of Brexit,
official figures have revealed,
leading experts to warn of
intensifying problems with
skills shortages.
The Office for National
Statistics’ (ONS) most
recent Migration Statistics
Quarterly Report showed
EU net migration had fallen
to its lowest level since
2012, falling to +87,000 in
the year ended March 2018.
At its peak, in the year
ended June 2016, EU net
migration was +189,000.
ONS statisticians noted
some of the fall over
the past year could be
attributed to a drop in
people arriving from the
EU to take up a definite
job offer. This had fallen by
24,000 to 86,000, similar
to levels seen in 2014.
Although the number of
people coming from the EU Businesses are facing record skills gaps
to the UK to look for work
more than halved between market has lost its pulling quantity of job candidates nurses would be removed
the years ending June 2016 power as far as EU citizens had fallen over the last from the Tier 2 visa cap.
and June 2017, this now are concerned. The drop year, as fewer EU migrants July’s statistics for restricted
seems to have stabilised at in the value of the pound, came to the UK in the run- certificates of sponsorship,
around 35,000 per year. the strong labour market up to Brexit. which must be obtained by
“These figures are performance of some Earlier this year, the most UK employers wishing
nothing to celebrate, and EU economies and the Confederation of British to employ non-EEA staff,
given businesses are facing ongoing uncertainty over Industry (CBI) called on showed that while the limit
record skills gaps at every Brexit are undoubtedly key the government to drop was still being reached, the
level, it’s disappointing to factors behind the UK’s its migration targets minimum salary requirement
see the decline in people loss of standing among EU after Brexit to make sure had dropped significantly
from Europe coming jobseekers.” companies could recruit the compared with previous
here to work,” said Jane The Institute for Public workers they needed. months. Because of how the
Gratton, Head of Business Policy Research’s Associate By contrast to the figures points system operates, the
Environment and Skills at Director for Migration for EU migrants, the latest salary required to be granted
the British Chambers of Phoebe Griffith said: ONS data showed non-EU a Tier 2 visa essentially
Commerce. “Despite valiant “The figures suggest that net migration had returned increases whenever the limit
efforts to recruit at home, uncertainty over their status to 2011 levels, following a is reached.
plus heavy investment in is leading EU nationals to dip in more recent years. While official statistics
training, employers still leave in higher numbers. Overall net migration for for August had not been
need great people to fill job As a result, even before we the year to March 2018 published at time of
vacancies where there are leave the EU, key sectors of stood at +271,000. writing, The Financial Times
local shortages.” our economy which depend Employers hoping to hire reports that lawyers have
Gerwyn Davies, Senior on EU workers – from talent from outside the EEA seen applications being
Labour Market Analyst at construction to social care – have recently been offered accepted for salaries just
the CIPD, added: “Today’s are facing skills shortages.” some respite, after the marginally above £30,000,
figures offer further The CIPD warned that government announced in the absolute minimum pay
evidence that the UK labour both the quality and June that NHS doctors and required for a Tier 2 visa. ■

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News.indd 5 20/09/2018 12:15