“Today’s figures will be very worrying for businesses. This latest drop in the number of EU workers coming into the country will put a further strain on employers. We are already battling with skills shortages and this is a challenge for the whole labour market, at both graduate and non-graduate level.
“Government can’t ignore any longer that Brexit is having an effect on the workforce. We urgently have to turn things around and make sure that EU workers still want to come to the UK. Employers need clarity so they can plan for the future and be able to invest in the growth of their businesses. We urge the government to come up with a post-Brexit immigration strategy that is based on evidence and will give businesses access to the workers they rely on. And this needs to include temporary and seasonal workers.”
