One in seven EU migrants to this country doesn’t have a job

ONE in seven European Union migrants of working age in the UK does not have a job, figures reveal.

A total of 390,000 of 2.73million EU nationals aged 16 to 64 are unemployed or deemed ‘inactive’.

A paper by the Office for National Statistics does not break down how many are given taxpayer-funded handouts, but those who are out of work could claim jobseekers’ allowance, child benefit, child tax credits or sickness benefits.

It is the first time the ONS has compiled sweeping figures on unemployment among those who came to Britain under controversial EU freedom of movement rules.

In 2014, then prime minister David Cameron made clear that migrants should only come here to work and expect to be booted out if they had not found jobs within six months.

But the following year the European Court of Justice ruled that it would be illegal for the UK to expel a jobless person from another EU country if they could demonstrate they were looking for work. It prompted the Government to tighten the rules, in a bid to block benefit tourism, so that EU nationals looking for work could claim handouts for only a maximum of six months before they were withdrawn.

Last night MEP Steven Woolfe, of the Leave Means Leave campaign, said: ‘The man in the street will be alarmed there are so many EU citizens without a job, potentially claiming benefits.’

People who are ‘inactive’ include those who are retired, ill, disabled or looking after family.

A Department for Work and Pensions spokesman said: ‘We have taken action to dramatically restrict EU migrants’ access to benefits, ensuring we have a fair system for those who need it and those who pay for it.’

The figures also lay bare the challenges businesses faces in weaning themselves off cheap foreign labour following Brexit.

Employers have warned that some sectors of the economy, such as agriculture, rely heavily on EU workers and could struggle if the labour supply dries up.

Alp Mehmet, vice-chairman of think-tank Migration Watch, said: ‘Business must now wean itself off the cheaper East European option.

‘Employers should turn to overseas workers only when they face genuine skills or labour shortages.’