UK Struggles to Attract High-Calibre Foreign Talent Despite Surge in Interest

Tuesday, September 17, 2024

The United Kingdom is struggling to attract highly skilled foreign workers, trailing behind its Western counterparts. Data from the hiring platform Indeed reveals that only 21% of foreign job seekers are clicking on UK job postings offering top-tier wages (£35,200–£91,000). This lags behind France and the Netherlands, which attract 36% and 35%, respectively, of foreign interest for high-paying roles.

This reveals a disconnect between the UK’s immigration objectives and the reality of the job market. Despite visa routes designed to attract highly skilled talent, the UK ranks among the lowest advanced economies for securing skilled workers, with only Spain performing worse. Meanwhile, nearly 39% of foreign job seekers are drawn to lower-paid positions in the UK, such as food preparation and retail, rather than the high-skilled roles the country aims to fill. Food service jobs alone accounted for nearly 9% of foreign job clicks in the first half of 2024, highlighting this gap.

Key Findings:

  • Low interest in high-wage jobs: Only 21% of foreign clicks target UK roles offering high salaries.
  • Attraction to lower-wage roles: 39% of foreign job seekers are drawn to lower-paid jobs like food service and retail.
  • Brexit-related hiring hurdles: Post-Brexit immigration policies complicate hiring, with 35% of employers saying it helps attract talent, but 33% feel it hinders recruitment.
  • Surge in overall foreign interest: International job searches made up 4.9% of total searches in July 2024, a 54% increase from 2019, outpacing the EU’s 29% rise over the same period.

Brexit’s Impact on Foreign Recruitment

Brexit continues to affect the UK labour market, especially when it comes to hiring foreign talent. The post-Brexit points-based immigration system has split opinions among employers. While 35% say it aids recruitment efforts, 33% believe it presents obstacles. This division highlights the challenges of navigating a post-Brexit labour market while trying to attract skilled international workers.

Despite these issues, foreign interest in UK jobs overall has grown. International job searches accounted for 4.9% of all searches in July 2024, up from 3.2% in 2019. However, this interest has been skewed toward lower-paid roles, limiting the UK's ability to attract the skilled talent it needs to compete globally.

British Workers Eye Life Abroad

As the UK struggles to lure foreign talent, a significant number of British workers are looking to move abroad. Indeed’s survey found that 62% of UK workers would consider working overseas, motivated by several factors:

  • Better quality of life: 54% believe moving abroad would improve their lifestyle.
  • Higher income: 54% expect better salaries overseas.
  • Improved weather: 33% seek better climates.
  • Lower cost of living: 33% think living abroad will be more affordable.

Despite this, UK companies are not keeping up with these desires. Nearly half (47%) of employers do not offer the option for employees to work abroad, and 42% lack policies that would allow flexible overseas working arrangements.

The Future of the UK Labour Market

The UK faces a critical challenge: attracting highly skilled foreign workers while also retaining its domestic talent. Although foreign interest in UK jobs is growing, much of this attention is directed toward lower-paid roles, leaving a gap in the government’s goal of securing top-tier talent. Moving forward, aligning immigration policies with global labour market trends will be essential if the UK hopes to stay competitive in a rapidly changing world.

 

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