A report from the Office for National Statistics has revealed that the number of EU workers from former Soviet bloc countries in the UK fell by 154,000 over the past year, which is unprecedented. They also reported that UK job vacancies are at their highest levels since comparable records began.
Further, the Adecco Group (the UK’s largest employment agency) has reported that labour supply is failing to keep pace with labour demand, resulting in increasing recruitment pressures for employers. This is exacerbated by far fewer EU nationals coming to the UK.
According to the latest official data, the number of EU-born workers in the UK increased by just 7,000 between Q1 2017 and Q1 2018, compared with an increase of 148,000 from Q1 2016 to Q1 2017. This represents a fall of 95% and has fed into a tightening of the labour market, resulting in a general shortfall of skills and labour according to employers.
The vast majority of UK based small firms have also never made use of the UK’s points-based immigration system. Given the decreasing number of EU workers coming to the UK and the potential complexities of a post-Brexit immigration system, employers will be forced to review and prepare their employment strategies accordingly. They will need to ensure they comply with all the current Sponsor Licence requirements, in particular, given that these are likely to set out the framework for hiring all migrant employees in the very near future, including from the EU.
The information in this blog is for general information purposes only and does not purport to be comprehensive or to provide legal advice. Whilst every effort is made to ensure the information and law is current as of the date of publication it should be stressed that, due to the passage of time, this does not necessarily reflect the present legal position. Gherson accepts no responsibility for loss which may arise from accessing or reliance on information contained in this blog. For formal advice on the current law please don’t hesitate to contact Gherson. Legal advice is only provided pursuant to a written agreement, identified as such, and signed by the client and by or on behalf of Gherson.
©Gherson 2018