The minister charged with negotiating the UK's exit from the European Union has said that Britain will not abruptly cut off the free movement of labour from the EU.In remarks being interpreted as a signal that the government might be ready to see a phased reduction in EU low-skilled immigration, Brexit Secretary David Davis said it could take “years and years” for the UK to fill all the jobs that would otherwise be done by EU workers coming to the UK.Speaking on a visit to the Baltic states, Mr Davis said, “In the hospitality sector, hotels and restaurants, in the social care sector, working in agriculture … it will take time. It will be years and years before we get British citizens to do those jobs.

The door won't suddenly shut

“Don’t expect just because we’re changing who makes the decision on the policy, the door will suddenly shut – it won’t.“We're a successful economy, largely ­– or partly, at least – because we have clever people, talented people come to Britain. Even on the wider area, where we've got less well-paid people who have come to live and work in Britain, that will take time.”Apparently, his comments were meant to reassure EU workers already in the UK, who fear they might suddenly be stripped of their right to remain after Brexit. But Leave campaigners, who said their referendum victory was based on a promise of falling immigration, reacted angrily.Former minister and Conservative leader Iain Duncan Smith told The Times he believed a slowdown in immigration would happen quicker than Mr Davis was suggesting, while Arron Banks, founder of the Leave.EU referendum campaign, branded the remarks  “quite astonishing”.

Employers suffering a shortage of candidates

Mr Davis's comments came as a survey of 600 UK companies by the Recruitment and Employment Confederation (REC) showed that 20 per cent of employers were suffering a shortage of suitable candidates for jobs in sectors including engineering, health and social care.Kevin Green, REC chief executive, said, “With record high employment and businesses continuing to expand, there's a lot about the UK jobs market to feel good about. Hiring in the capital is picking up speed as demand drives business forward.“However, employers are eyeing the road ahead with trepidation. There are signs that individuals are becoming less inclined to move jobs, meaning that filling vacancies is becoming even more difficult for hirers.“Evidence that fewer EU nationals are moving to the UK to work is another concern. Sectors like healthcare and hospitality are heavily dependent on EU workers to provide the services the public needs.”Another report claimed that the construction industry needed to recruit about 400,000 plumbers, electricians, bricklayers, quantity surveyors and other tradesmen every year until 2021 if the UK was to meet its house-building and infrastructure targets.

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James Bryce from consultants Arcadis, which prepared the report, said, “Systemic under-investment in the nation's workforce has contributed to a reduction in UK productivity.“Construction employment is already down 15 per cent on 2008 and, quite simply, if we don't have the right people to build the homes and infrastructure we need, the UK is going to struggle to maintain its competitive position in the global economy.“Overcoming a skills shortfall as vast as the one we now face can't be achieved through education and technology alone.“Of course, we need to bring more new talent into the industry but construction will also need to look at those currently working in other industries and dramatically improve its efficiency.”For related news and features, visit our Brexit section.Access hundreds of global services and suppliers in our Online Directory  Get access to our free Global Mobility Toolkit

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