The selection of EU electorate transferring to the United Kingdom has plummeted post-Brexit amid tighter visa necessities, a brand new record says.
Just 43,000 other folks from EU member states gained visas for paintings, learn about, circle of relatives or different functions in 2021, accounting for 5 in step with cent of all visas granted that 12 months.
It’s a pointy decline in comparison to the 230,000 to 430,000 visas granted to EU electorate within the six years as much as March 2020, in line with figures from the Office for National Statistics.
Since Brexit the United Kingdom has presented a points-based immigration machine that units a minimal wage that potential staff will have to earn.
A learn about by means of the Migration Observatory on the University of Oxford and ReWage, a bunch of labour marketplace professionals, discovered the tip of freedom of motion with the EU had “exacerbated” Britain’s labour shortages.
But the record additionally identifies different drivers akin to upper activity turnover because the Covid pandemic and no more process amongst other folks elderly over 50.
Around 40 in step with cent of visas granted to EU electorate in 2021 have been for college students, whilst an extra quarter went to “skilled workers” — the ones paid no less than £26,500 (€31,400) in step with 12 months.
The UK’s agriculture and hospitality industries have observed the largest fall in jobs held by means of EU staff — shedding by means of round 1 / 4 in each sectors between June 2019 to June 2021.
Meanwhile the development business has observed a 13 in step with cent upward push in such staff over the similar duration.
However, handiest round 2,600 British employers employed no less than one EU employee in 2021, with greater firms a lot more prone to give you the vital sponsorship for a visa software.
The record concludes there may be “some evidence” that Brexit and the tip of unfastened motion contributed to labour shortages in the United Kingdom.
“While there is some evidence that the end of free movement has contributed to shortages in some areas of the UK labour market, it is by no means the only driver,” stated Professor Chris Forde of the University of Leeds.
“In fact, recruiting difficulties are not unique to the UK and several other countries have experienced high vacancy rates post-pandemic,” he added.
The record suggests increasing visa eligibility for low-wage jobs to handle gaps in the United Kingdom’s labour marketplace.
It additionally recommends decreasing administrative necessities or charges for British employers taking a look to rent EU staff.
EU electorate face tighter visa restrictions since the United Kingdom left the EU in January 2021, which ended freedom of motion with the bloc.
The UK presented a point-based immigration machine, which units a minimal standards for any non-British electorate in need of to stay within the nation for greater than six months.
Most other folks wishing to paintings in the United Kingdom will have to meet minimal wage necessities and feature a minimal B1 English language degree.
Students have to acquire a visa to stick for greater than six months and usually will have to go away the United Kingdom after their direction finishes.
Madeleine Sumption, director of the Migration Observatory on the University of Oxford, stated: “While it’s transparent that finishing unfastened motion has made it tougher for employers in low-wage industries to recruit workforce, converting immigration coverage to handle shortages brings its personal set of demanding situations.
“Low-wage work visa schemes are notoriously difficult to police and often open workers up to exploitation and abuse.”
