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| Metro station in Warsaw, Poland. One Coventry-based company, Squires Gear and Engineering told the BCC that migrant workers from Eastern Europe tend to have a good work ethic, have little or no time off sick, and pick up new skills quickly. Photograph: Agencja Fotograficzna Caro/Alamy |
Almost half of UK businesses employ migrant workers, saying
there is a lack of local talent and that staff from overseas have a
more positive work ethic, according to a report by the British Chambers
of Commerce.
Forty five percent of UK firms hire migrants from within and outside the EU, the BCC’s 2014 workforce survey found.
John Longworth, director general of the lobby group, said that while companies were concerned about the level of unemployment in the UK, particularly among the young, they struggled to find UK workers with the right skills.
“Businesses continue to rely on migrant workers, because they can’t find enough suitable talent locally. Nearly half of businesses are hiring migrant workers, as they believe that they are more suited to roles than UK workers, have a more positive work ethic and better experience and qualifications.”
The trend for companies to recruit overseas caused a political row recently when Northamptonshire sandwich-maker Greencore was accused of ignoring locals who wanted work, recruiting instead in Hungary.
One Coventry-based company, Squires Gear and Engineering told the BCC that migrant workers from Eastern Europe tend to have a good work ethic, have little or no time off sick, and pick up new skills quickly.
The family-run business, which is an equal opportunities employer, has historically employed a mix of British and migrant workers, in particular Polish engineers.
Squires believes that schools should work more closely with businesses to understand what it is they want from school leavers. Companies should also take responsibility for equipping workers with more skills, Squires said.
Longworth said more needed to be done to improve the prospects of young people in the UK, giving them the skills they needed to compete more effectively in Britain’s jobs market.
“The long-term sustainable growth of the UK relies on all of the UK feeling the benefit of a ‘good economy’, not just the skilled and high-paid earners. It’s therefore important that we focus on improving the skills of the young to meet demand. The job of businesses, in partnership with educators, and parents too, is to give our youth the right skills and work ethic to compete with the best in the world.”
According to the BCC, almost nine in 10 firms hiring migrant workers said they made up a relatively small proportion of the workforce, with three-quarters or more of their staff UK residents.
Twelve per cent of businesses said EU migrants made up more than 10% of their workforce, and 4% said non-EU migrants accounted for more than 10% of staff.
Firms operating in the catering and accommodation sector were most likely to hire migrants, with 70% reporting that they did.
Professional and businesses services companies, and those operating in the media and creative sector, were least likely to hire workers from outside the UK.
The BCC said policy changes were needed, including a business governor in every school to increase business engagement in education.
Longworth said that UK firms are aware of public perceptions around immigration, “such as the belief that porous borders put downward pressure on wages”.
However, only 4% of companies cited a reduced wage bill as motivation for employing migrant workers.
Forty five percent of UK firms hire migrants from within and outside the EU, the BCC’s 2014 workforce survey found.
John Longworth, director general of the lobby group, said that while companies were concerned about the level of unemployment in the UK, particularly among the young, they struggled to find UK workers with the right skills.
“Businesses continue to rely on migrant workers, because they can’t find enough suitable talent locally. Nearly half of businesses are hiring migrant workers, as they believe that they are more suited to roles than UK workers, have a more positive work ethic and better experience and qualifications.”
The trend for companies to recruit overseas caused a political row recently when Northamptonshire sandwich-maker Greencore was accused of ignoring locals who wanted work, recruiting instead in Hungary.
One Coventry-based company, Squires Gear and Engineering told the BCC that migrant workers from Eastern Europe tend to have a good work ethic, have little or no time off sick, and pick up new skills quickly.
The family-run business, which is an equal opportunities employer, has historically employed a mix of British and migrant workers, in particular Polish engineers.
Squires believes that schools should work more closely with businesses to understand what it is they want from school leavers. Companies should also take responsibility for equipping workers with more skills, Squires said.
Longworth said more needed to be done to improve the prospects of young people in the UK, giving them the skills they needed to compete more effectively in Britain’s jobs market.
“The long-term sustainable growth of the UK relies on all of the UK feeling the benefit of a ‘good economy’, not just the skilled and high-paid earners. It’s therefore important that we focus on improving the skills of the young to meet demand. The job of businesses, in partnership with educators, and parents too, is to give our youth the right skills and work ethic to compete with the best in the world.”
According to the BCC, almost nine in 10 firms hiring migrant workers said they made up a relatively small proportion of the workforce, with three-quarters or more of their staff UK residents.
Twelve per cent of businesses said EU migrants made up more than 10% of their workforce, and 4% said non-EU migrants accounted for more than 10% of staff.
Firms operating in the catering and accommodation sector were most likely to hire migrants, with 70% reporting that they did.
Professional and businesses services companies, and those operating in the media and creative sector, were least likely to hire workers from outside the UK.
The BCC said policy changes were needed, including a business governor in every school to increase business engagement in education.
Longworth said that UK firms are aware of public perceptions around immigration, “such as the belief that porous borders put downward pressure on wages”.
However, only 4% of companies cited a reduced wage bill as motivation for employing migrant workers.
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