UK attracts more non-EU job seekers after Brexit
LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM — The job market in the United Kingdom (UK) saw a rise in interest from non-EU countries since the post-Brexit immigration overhaul in 2021, particularly for higher-skilled roles like software development.
This contrasts with the previously dominant trend of European workers filling lower-skilled positions since the post-Brexit immigration overhaul.
Pawel Adrjan, Indeed’s director of research for Europe, the Middle East and Africa, said their June data revealed a 1.4% contribution from EU job seekers, a marginal drop from prior Brexit figures.
In contrast, non-EU searches jumped to 4.1%, primarily from countries like India, Nigeria, South Africa, and Pakistan.
As the Bank of England notes wage growth hitting a 20-year peak, the post-Brexit immigration overhaul saw the UK restricting most EU nationals’ employment access. However, visa rules have been simplified, allowing employers to hire outside the UK and EU for jobs costing around £26,200 (US$33,000) annually.
Some sectors, including hospitality and construction, now grapple with hiring internationally. Yet, areas facing acute labor shortages, mainly health and social care, offer visas even to lower-paid workers.
In 2022, UK net migration reached a record high of 606,000. Adrjan pointed to a global trend of increased immigration to developed countries, driven by tight labor markets and aging populations.
For instance, foreign job searches in Canada and Australia have increased since 2019, reaching 10.9% and 17.2%, respectively, while the United States (U.S.) and European Union (EU) remain relatively unchanged at 3.4% and 2.7%.
