CBI responds to latest quarterly immigration statistics

Josh Hardie, CBI Deputy Director-General, said:

“Despite the small uptick over the last quarter, the overall fall in EU net migration since the Referendum - combined with record low unemployment - means businesses are already struggling to recruit even before free movement has ended. 

“Businesses want politicians to have an honest conversation about immigration. Any new system must be based on evidence and allow ample time for firms to adapt. So revisiting the Migration Advisory Committee’s recommendation to ban workers from overseas earning less than £30,000 is the right approach, as the cap would only exacerbate existing skills and labour shortages.

“People coming here to work help businesses compete, staff our health service and contribute more in tax than they take out. Politically driven targets will only harm our economy and mean less money for public services. If the UK is to succeed post-Brexit, it must remain open to the world.”