Migrants are benefiting from the tight labour market, with wages failing to budge upwards, according to a survey published today.

The latest Human Resources Quarterly Trends and Indicators Survey, completed for the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD), shows that employers are investing in the learning and development of their staff, while turning to migrant labour to fill vacancies.

Recruitment difficulties and skills shortages are sending employers overseas in their hunt for talent.

Nearly three in 10 employers are planning to recruit workers from overseas this autumn.

Among companies, with more than 500 employees, this figure rises to 40%.

Dr John Philpott, CIPD Chief Economist, said: "Skills shortages are forcing employers overseas as they struggle to fill vacancies. This puts the heated political debate about immigration into perspective.

“If rules are tightened in an arbitrary way, employers across business and government could suffer.”

Despite talk of public sector job cuts, 87% of public sector employers intend to recruit during the autumn, compared to 80% across the private sector and less than 70% in the primary production sector.

Survey responses were received from 1,455 employers during September 2004.