There is insufficient volume of UK nationals willing and able to fill the low-skill roles currently done by EU nationals, and changing recruitment strategies and automation won’t be able to compensate for this, says a new report from the Recruitment & Employment Confederation called Ready, willing and able? Can the UK labour force meet demand after Brexit?
Although EU nationals make up 7% of the UK labour market, overall they account for 15% of workers in low-skilled roles.
With record high employment already, recruiters warn that it will be impossible to replace EU workers with British substitutues.
The REC is recommending that:
- There should be no blanket salary threshold for EU migrants wishing to work in the UK after the UK leaves the EU
- Provisions for both temporary workers, and a seasonal workers scheme, must be included in any new immigration system
- Employers should be allowed to recruit from the EU for any role that cannot be filled domestically
- In its planning for future workforce needs, the government should not overestimate the potential for either automation or UK nationals to fill the labour gap caused by a reduction in EU migration
Kevin Green, REC Chief Executive says:
“The government needs to engage with business and ensure that any new immigration system is agile, pragmatic and based on a proper understanding of labour market data.”
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