UK drops in attractiveness for migrant workers after Brexit – with EU numbers falling hard
THE UK’s popularity has plummeted for foreign workers after the Brexit vote, a new poll has revealed.
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Britain has tumbled from second most popular global destination for European workers to relocate to the SIXTH, according to accountancy firm BDO.
It is now behind the US, Germany, Switzerland, Australia, Canada and Spain,
The poll asked more than 10,000 people in 20 countries their top three destinations to work across the world.
It revealed a whopping 24 percent put the US as their top destination.
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Germany, Switzerland, and Australia were joint second with 20 per cent.
The UK also dropped out of the top six for those surveyed from EU member states, with Spain jumping by six percentage points.
Paul Eagland, managing partner at BDO, said: “UK businesses are already struggling with a skills shortage. The impact of the EU referendum and uncertainty around a new trade deal is likely to make this worse.
“It’s absolutely imperative that the Government makes it clear to the world that the UK is still a great place to do business and that we continue to attract the world’s bright and best to our country.”
But it isn’t just within Europe the UK’s popularity fell, it has slipped down the rankings for global workers too.
Canada overtook Britain as the second most popular with 22 percent of the vote, ahead of the US.
A survey by Indeed in December also came to the same conclusion.
The results, published in December, found that the UK was still the most popular choice for Europeans looking to relocate, but its share of job searches had fallen.
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In the year following the Brexit vote EU net migration to the UK fell by 106,000 to 230,000, government figures revealed.
The British Council held a similar survey and found more than a third of EU citizens believe that the UK is less attractive as a country following the EU Referendum vote.
The survey of nearly 40,000 people aged between 18 and 34 years old was carried out for the British Council by Ipsos MORI in two waves either side of the EU referendum.
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Sir Ciarán Devane, chief executive of the Council, said: “As the UK comes to reposition itself on the world stage, our reputation matters more than ever.
"We need to address the more negative opinions young people in Europe now have whilst making the most of the positive opinions elsewhere.
"Leaving the EU in a way that maintains relationships with the societies of Europe – and that strengthens these partnerships around the world - will be essential.”
