“Today’s speech by the Prime Minister will be cold comfort to UK employers. The government’s plan risks putting the jobs market in reverse by leaving the single market and curtailing access to workers from the EU.
“We must not underestimate the vital role that EU workers play across the economy. We need more nurses to care for our ageing population, more people with the skills to build houses, and seasonal workers to ensure that farmers can continue to deliver for British customers. The reality is that we have near-full employment; the idea that there are hundreds of thousands of UK nationals waiting in the wings to take these jobs is a fantasy.
“Instead of recognising this, the Prime Minister propagated the myth that immigration has had a negative impact on pay in the UK.
“We call on the government to think through the proposed changes to immigration before it damages the jobs market and the future prosperity of the UK, and we are ready to work with government to help find solutions.”
