Fewer EU citizens in Cardiff

THE number of EU citizens coming to Cardiff to work has plummeted since Britain voted to Leave.

Figures from the Department for Work and Pensions show that 3,428 European people came from overseas and registered for National Insurance numbers in the year ending September 2018.

That’s down from 4,007 registrations in the year ending September 2017, and a drop of 21% from 4,335 in the year ending in September 2016.

In the year ending September 2018, there were a total of 11,619 registrations across Wales, down from 14,045 in the year ending September 2017 and down by 22% from the 14,927 registrations in the year ending September 2016.

Across the UK as a whole, there were 619,683 National Insurance number registrations from adults coming from Europe in the year ending to September 2018.

This is down from 738,069 registered in the year ending in September 2017, and a 25% drop from 822,231 in the year of the Brexit vote.

Commenting on the figures, Maike Bohn, the co-founder of the3Million, which campaigns for EU citizens in the UK said: “These numbers confirm a trend, but one that seems to be accelerating.

“Just as UK businesses are protecting themselves from risk by reducing numbers and moving abroad, EU citizens are making similar decisions based on risk and opportunity.

“And the risks of moving to the UK right now outweigh the opportunities.

“Potential candidates for UK vacancies are now considering their options in Germany, France, Spain and other countries, rather than jumping into an uncertain legal and economic adventure in Britain.”

At the moment, EU citizens who want to stay in the UK after 29 March have to apply for settlement scheme, because after that date they will not legally be allowed to stay in Britain without a settled status.