How will post-Brexit migration plans affect the workforce?
POST-BREXIT immigration plans could lead to a labour shortage in the East Midlands - with one in every seven low-skilled workers coming from the EU.
New analysis of figures from the Office for National Statistics has revealed that 14 per cent of all lowskilled jobs in the region are filled by EU migrants.
In particular, EU workers make up a large proportion of elementary occupations in the East Midlands - including jobs like farm labourers, cleaners, garbage collectors and construction workers.
As a comparison, just two per cent of all highly-skilled jobs in the East Midlands are filled by EU nationals, which includes those employed as scientists, engineers, doctors and teachers.
It means that proposals to limit the number of EU migrants working in lower-skilled jobs and prevent all but the highly-skilled from living here permanently could prove catastrophic for certain industries - particularly if EU workers currently living here decide to leave.
While local figures aren’t available, a study by general trade union GMB revealed last month that nationally, a broad range of industries are particularly reliant on EU workers.
In particular, more than half of employees in the fruit and vegetable processing and preserving sector are from EU countries.
Similarly, meat and fish processing, non-perennial crop growing and animal feed manufacturing are all likely to be heavily affected.
In fact, whole industries - such as hotel and catering and translation services - rely on EU migrants to make up a substantial part of their workforce.
Frances O’Grady, general secretary of the Trades Union Congress, said: “The test for Brexit is whether it will make working people better off. More undocumented and exploited workers would be bad for everyone.
“Growth, services and living standards would be at risk. And it would undermine decent employers who want to uphold high standards for their workforce.
“Instead of these shoddy proposals, the government should crack down on exploitation, strengthen workers’ rights, and invest more in skills for sectors facing shortages.”