The UK has the second-lowest share of clicks by foreign workers on higher-paying jobs compared to other large western countries, according to data from Indeed.
Only 21 per cent of clicks on UK roles by foreign jobseekers in the first half of 2024 were on those in the upper third of salary distribution, paying between £35,200 and £91,000 per annum. In contrast, France and the Netherlands had the highest level of interest, with 36 per cent and 35 per cent of clicks by workers from abroad being on higher-paying roles respectively.
However, overall foreign interest in UK jobs remained strong, with international searches for jobs making up 4.9 per cent of all searches in July, compared with 3.2 per cent in 2019.
What’s next for business migration?
Increasing numbers of visa sponsorship licences suspended or revoked – should employers be worried?
Two in five (39 per cent) foreign clicks on UK jobs were on those with the lowest pay, while the category with the highest share of clicks was food preparation and service jobs, with 9 per cent. A further 5.7 per cent of clicks were on retail jobs.
Rajneesh Narula, professor of international business regulation at Henley Business School, told People Management that the data was unsurprising in light of the UK’s current attitudes towards immigration. “Brexit’s populist roots spring from a general concern about excessive foreigners coming in, and this sentiment – that we have too many foreign workers in our midst – has not been very nuanced, in that the associated hostile environment has not distinguished between skilled, unskilled or highly skilled,” he explained.
“Since Brexit […] more stringent rules, along with the recent riots, have not helped modify this perception that the UK is not an ideal place to come and work.”
Chetal Patel, partner and head of Immigration at Bates Wells, told People Management: “Brexit has undoubtedly added to the complexity of hiring foreign nationals but it’s not the only fuel to the fire.
“The UK has traditionally been a favoured destination for foreign workers but we’re seeing dips in migration, not least because the UK is one of the most expensive immigration systems in the world but also because of the hikes in minimum salary thresholds for skilled workers.”
The research follows changes to skilled worker visa rules by the previous Conservative government, which came into force in April this year, meaning sponsors must now pay workers a minimum salary of £38,700, compared to the previous threshold of £26,200. It also implemented a ban on care workers bringing partners or children with them to the UK.
Home Office figures show that the reforms have contributed to an overall drop in the numbers of overseas workers looking to come to the UK. Just 286,382 work visas were granted in the year ending June 2024, 11 per cent fewer than the previous year.
“With the addition of a new points-based visa system that requires anyone coming to the UK to meet a strict criterion of requirements before being issued a visa, individuals are seeking to showcase their talent in other countries,” said Karendeep Kaur, legal director at Migrate UK. “Employers are also struggling to meet the demands for salary expectations in addition to the increasing visa fees and employer mandatory costs.”
The Indeed research also found that employers were divided over the impact they expected Brexit to have – 35 per cent of those surveyed thought it could help them hire talent outside the UK, while 33 per cent thought it would be a hindrance.
“There’s a fine balance between the UK’s need to remain competitive in attracting global talent and reducing net migration, which is a key priority for the government,” Patel added. She warned that further significant skilled salary increases are due to come into force next month for a number of roles, which will likely lead to the continued decline in work visas.
Despite these challenges, Kaur stressed that businesses should “not only offer competitive salaries but also other benefits such as living conditions, private healthcare, private education and political and economic stability, which will focus their attention on UK employment opportunities”.
Ian Moore, managing director of Lodge Court, agreed, telling People Management that employers should “offer salaries that match living costs, while fostering a welcoming environment for international talent” by introducing initiatives to integrate foreign workers more effectively into the community and workplace.
Listen to the CIPD’s podcast on the true cost of post-Brexit recruitment
