UK immigration policy in danger of creating ‘a brewing skills shortage’, warns Randstad
28 February 2014
The managing director of Randstad Financial & Professional has entered the debate over the UK’s immigration rules.
Fri, 28 Feb 2014
The managing director of Randstad Financial & Professional has entered the debate over the UK’s immigration rules.
Tara Ricks warned that the government was in danger of creating “a brewing skills shortage” in the UK’s finance and accountancy sector.
Ricks says the sector has been badly affected by visa restrictions that have reduced the number of financial and accountancy sector professionals coming to work in the UK from South Africa, New Zealand and Australia.
“The UK has shut the door on the skillsets that the financial and professional services sectors need, and a key part of people’s professional fulfillment – the opportunity to work abroad – is starting to become a thing of the past,” says Ricks.
“The South Africans were the first to be hit but as visa restrictions have kicked in, the number of employees from Australia and New Zealand has plummeted, too. Add to that the drain on the sector’s indigenous workforce as emerging markets in Singapore and Shanghai suck talent out of London and you have a brewing skills shortage in a key sector for the UK economy.”
Since 6 April 2013, workers can only apply for a Tier 2 visa if they have been offered a skilled job in the UK and have been sponsored. Workers who successfully apply for a visa can remain in the UK for a maximum of three years and one month, after which they can apply for a three-year extension.
Analysis by Randstad claims there are a third fewer skilled migrants arriving in the UK than before 2007, and that 15% more are leaving the UK.
Ricks’ views are echoed by business groups. Mark Hilton, head of immigration policy at London First, warns of the dangers of further limiting the number of non-EU migrants. “In the past this has hit both the highly-skilled immigrants we need, as well as foreign students, who are a huge economic asset,” he says.
Ricks’ comments come the day after figures from the Office for National Statistics showed that net migration into the UK rose to 212,000 in the year to September 2103. This was in large part due to 60,000 more people arriving from EU countries, such as Spain, Portugal, Italy and Poland. There was a 30% increase in National Insurance number registrations from EU nationals seeking work in the UK.
The ONS figures have cast doubt on David Cameron’s ability to deliver on his promise to bring net migration down to 100,000 by the end of 2015. Yvette Cooper, shadow home secretary, said the policy was “in tatters”.
Following the release of the ONS figures, comments by business secretary Vince Cable suggested that the Coalition is split on the issue. “This is further proof that any quota on migration, such as the one Conservatives are pushing to get net migration down to tens of thousands, is unworkable and contradicts our aim of getting Britain back on its feet,” says Cable.
Tara Ricks warned that the government was in danger of creating “a brewing skills shortage” in the UK’s finance and accountancy sector.
Ricks says the sector has been badly affected by visa restrictions that have reduced the number of financial and accountancy sector professionals coming to work in the UK from South Africa, New Zealand and Australia.
“The UK has shut the door on the skillsets that the financial and professional services sectors need, and a key part of people’s professional fulfillment – the opportunity to work abroad – is starting to become a thing of the past,” says Ricks.
“The South Africans were the first to be hit but as visa restrictions have kicked in, the number of employees from Australia and New Zealand has plummeted, too. Add to that the drain on the sector’s indigenous workforce as emerging markets in Singapore and Shanghai suck talent out of London and you have a brewing skills shortage in a key sector for the UK economy.”
Since 6 April 2013, workers can only apply for a Tier 2 visa if they have been offered a skilled job in the UK and have been sponsored. Workers who successfully apply for a visa can remain in the UK for a maximum of three years and one month, after which they can apply for a three-year extension.
Analysis by Randstad claims there are a third fewer skilled migrants arriving in the UK than before 2007, and that 15% more are leaving the UK.
Ricks’ views are echoed by business groups. Mark Hilton, head of immigration policy at London First, warns of the dangers of further limiting the number of non-EU migrants. “In the past this has hit both the highly-skilled immigrants we need, as well as foreign students, who are a huge economic asset,” he says.
Ricks’ comments come the day after figures from the Office for National Statistics showed that net migration into the UK rose to 212,000 in the year to September 2103. This was in large part due to 60,000 more people arriving from EU countries, such as Spain, Portugal, Italy and Poland. There was a 30% increase in National Insurance number registrations from EU nationals seeking work in the UK.
The ONS figures have cast doubt on David Cameron’s ability to deliver on his promise to bring net migration down to 100,000 by the end of 2015. Yvette Cooper, shadow home secretary, said the policy was “in tatters”.
Following the release of the ONS figures, comments by business secretary Vince Cable suggested that the Coalition is split on the issue. “This is further proof that any quota on migration, such as the one Conservatives are pushing to get net migration down to tens of thousands, is unworkable and contradicts our aim of getting Britain back on its feet,” says Cable.
