Companies in low-skilled sectors have neglected British workers because they save money by using cheap EU labour, report claims
Independent committee said restricting the flow of EU migration post Brexit could affect some companies severely - and put the brakes on growth
BLUE-COLLAR Brits are being shunned by big employers who have built their entire business model around access to cheap EU labour, an official report has declared.
The Government-backed Migration Advisory Committee said companies worried about post-Brexit restrictions to immigration could do more to train up British workers.
And it said companies in low-skilled sectors were just not “credible” in arguing that offering higher wages would make little difference to attracting UK-born staff.
It said migrants from Eastern Europe charge 4 per cent less than UK workers for the same low skilled jobs, and overall earn 27 per cent less than British workers.
In a withering verdict the MAC said employers arguing wages were not a factor in difficulties hiring Brits were just not “credible”.
Some 95 per cent of jobs in hospitality pay below average hourly earnings.
The MAC admitted that restricting the flow of EU migration post Brexit could affect some companies severely - and put the brakes on growth.
It added there was evidence Brits took more sickies and were less motivated than migrants in low skilled jobs.
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But it claimed business was wrong to argue they would be left with “unfilled vacancies” for long if Brexit restricted the flow of European labour.
“Some employers do not feel they could improve the supply of UK born workers by offering higher wages, that wages are irrelevant to the ability to recruit and retain,” the MAC said.
“The MAC does not think this is credible.”
The MAC was hired by Home Secretary Amber Rudd to study Britain’s labour needs ahead of a post Brexit immigration bill.
SICK NOT SLICK UK
BRITS are more likely than Eastern Europeans to take a sickie, the Migration Advisory Committee said.
Migrants in low-skilled jobs had an “absenteeism rate” 40 per cent below a UK-born worker in the same job.
Employers said that migrants were often more motivated, better- educated and happier to work overtime.
But the MAC said firms could get round this by offering higher wages.
Today’s interim report said that cutting net migration to zero could see the population of Scotland and Wales fall- but that England’s would continue to rise.
The MAC gave no indication of what post Brexit caps or limits on EU migration should be in today’s report.
And it said that while business needs were important it wants to study the impacts on local communities and public services.
GOVERNMENT STAFFING WARNING - FROM NHS TO FOOTBALL
Theresa May’s own Government departments are warning immigration controls could lead to staffing shortages from the NHS to football.
The Department for Culture, Media and Sport said that 400 footballers in the Championship, League One and League Two — or 11 per cent — were from the European Economic Area.
It said restrictions may “compromise quality and standards” of UK sports.
Gerwyn Davies, senior Labour market analyst at the CIPD said: "The MAC rightly judges that some employers’ claims about skill shortages and their inability to improve the supply of UK workers through higher wages are exaggerated in some cases, especially in low-skilled or unskilled sectors.
“This is consistent with CIPD research, as noted by the MAC, which finds that that while some are adopting best practice to find home-grown applicants, others are falling short.”
