International Shia News Agency

Jobs report shows UK firms turning to EU graduates

SHAFAQNA (Shia International News Association) – Younger British workers are struggling to compete for jobs with EU migrants who offer greater experience and commitment, according to a report by the Chartered Institute of Personnel & Development (CIPD).

A survey of 1,000 employers found that fast-growing businesses are recruiting from a large pool of migrants from across the EU and among older UK workers before they need to look at the under 25s.

The report, EU Migrants and the UK Labour Market, argues that many employers, as they expand, are able to fill vacancies with overqualified staff returning to the jobs market or travelling from the EU.

It found that 60% of migrant workers from EU accession countries such as Latvia and Poland who are taking low-skilled jobs are graduates, compared with around 20% of low-skilled workers born in Britain.

But the study found little evidence to suggest that employers recruit migrant workers to cut costs or reduce training budgets. Only 12% said they recruited migrant workers because they have lower expectations about pay and employment conditions.

The research found that employers taking on migrants workers are also more likely to recruit locally and to invest in work experience, internships and apprenticeships.

Peter Cheese, chief executive at the CIPD, said: “Employers have been turning to EU migrants that are a bit older and have more work experience than young people in the UK – emphasising the competitive nature of the market for entry level jobs.

“This is a highly charged political issue, but our research shows that many of the negative assumptions about immigration are untrue. Employers are making rational decisions to employ more experienced and qualified workers from overseas over less experienced UK workers, or are hiring migrants because there are simply not enough applicants in the local labour market,” he said.

The CIPD has urged ministers to increase the range and sophistication of training and apprenticeships on offer to help younger workers in a more competitive labour market.

Source: The Guardian

www.shafaqna.com/english

Leave a Comment