# UK sees biggest rise in foreign workers since COVID-19 pandemic
Author:  Pal Sinha, Barnali 
Author URL: https://financedigest.com/author/pal-sinha-barnali
Published: 2022-08-16
Category: NEWS
Category URL: https://financedigest.com/category/news
Meta Title: Biggest rise of foreign workers in UK post-COVID-19
Meta Description: Official figures show a significant increase in non-EU workers contributing to Britain's workforce, posing challenges and opportunities in the post-Brexit
URL: https://financedigest.com/uk-sees-biggest-rise-in-foreign-workers-since-covid-19-pandemichtml

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By David Milliken

LONDON (Reuters) – Britain recorded its biggest rise in foreign workers since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic in the year to June, driven overwhelmingly by workers from outside the European Union, official figures showed on Tuesday.

Since January 2021, most EU citizens not already working in Britain must be sponsored by an employer and be paid a salary that does not significantly undercut existing wages, after losing their previous almost-unrestricted right to work.

The post-Brexit change puts EU migrants on the same footing as those from the rest of the world, but has drawn complaints from employers who find the process bureaucratic, and a non-starter for most [jobs that pay](https://www.financedigest.com/best-paying-jobs-in-natural-gas-distribution.html "Best paying jobs in natural gas distribution") less than 25,600 pounds ($30,760) a year.

Tuesday’s Office for National Statistics data showed the number of foreign-born [workers in Britain rose by 223,000 in the year](https://www.financedigest.com/1-in-10-workers-considering-a-career-change-in-the-next-year.html "1 in 10 workers considering a career change in the next year") to the end of June, up from an increase of 184,000 in the year to March and the biggest rise since early 2020.

Migration – a key source of worker shortages through the [pandemic – is showing some signs of bouncing back,”](https://www.financedigest.com/as-who-pandemic-pact-talks-begin-poor-countries-on-back-foot.html "As WHO pandemic pact talks begin, poor countries on back foot") said James Smith, an economist at ING.

The data may be welcomed by the [Bank of England which is worried that a shortage of candidates to fill jobs could push up wages too quickly and aggravate the recent jump in inflation](https://www.financedigest.com/bank-of-england-still-needs-to-see-the-job-through-on-inflation-pill.html "Bank of England still needs to ‘see the job through’ on inflation: Pill").

Samuel Tombs, at Pantheon Macroeconomics, said migration was likely to [rise further as the salary thresholds for sponsoring work visas had not been raised in line with average](https://www.financedigest.com/average-annual-uk-food-bill-set-to-rise-454-pounds-as-inflation-soars.html "Average annual UK food bill set to rise 454 pounds as inflation soars") wages, which are 5.1% higher than a year ago.

The latest figures [confirm a big shift in migration patterns compared with before Brexit](https://www.financedigest.com/brexit-the-uk-supreme-court-confirms-that-only-parliament-has-the-power-to-trigger-article-50.html "Brexit: The Uk Supreme Court Confirms That Only Parliament Has The Power To Trigger Article 50").

Non-EU workers increased by 189,000 while the number of EU workers rose by 34,000 over the [past year](https://www.financedigest.com/big-banks-want-survive-past-next-10-years-need-adapt.html "If the big banks want to survive past the next 10 years, they need to adapt").

Previous government data showed India, Nigeria and the Philippines were the countries whose nationals [received the most skilled work visas](https://www.financedigest.com/fimes-shenzhen-lab-receives-emvco-mastercard-and-visa-accreditations.html "FIME’s Shenzhen lab receives EMVCo, Mastercard and Visa accreditations") in the year to March.

By contrast, more than a million EU [workers moved to Britain between the 2008-09 financial crisis and June 2016’s Brexit](https://www.financedigest.com/post-brexit-uk-workers-can-have-financial-security.html "Post Brexit – UK workers CAN have financial security") referendum, since when the number of EU-born workers in employment has broadly stabilised at slightly under 2.4 million.

The number of non-EU workers employed in Britain has risen to 3.9 million from 3.1 million in the six years [since June](https://www.financedigest.com/uk-mortgage-approvals-hit-lowest-since-june-2020.html "UK mortgage approvals hit lowest since June 2020") 2016.

($1 = 0.8323 pounds)

(Reporting by David Milliken; Editing by Nick Macfie)


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