Migrant Workers Provide Boost to UK Economy

Yesterday the Institute of Directors (IoD) published a new report on migrant workers which finds that there a large proportion of business leaders believe that migrant workers provide a vital boost to the UK economy.

The report, which surveyed over 500 members in December of last year showed that ,around 65% of IoD members want to encourage immigration in order to alleviate skills shortages and widen the labour pool. They report that migrant workers significantly outperform the existing workforce in a number of areas including productivity, education & skills, work ethic, reliability and the amount of sick leave.

57 percent of the Business Leaders were in favour of a policy of total freedom of movement of labour within the EU However only 13 percent thought the Governments current immigration policy was effective. However its is worth noting that the majority,80 percent, are not in favour of completely unrestricted immigration policy.

Miles Templeman, Director General of the Institute of Directors said:

““As demonstrated by our survey, migrant workers provide a vital boost to the UK economy. It also, more than we expected, shows that migrant workers outperform across a whole range of measures including productivity, education and skills, work ethic, reliability and the amount of sick leave. Immigration however, should not be left unrestricted and should be controlled on a skills basis.

“It also confirms the Leitch report recommendation, that in a global economy, the UK workforce has got to raise its game on skills and performance.”