The UK is encountering difficulties in luring highly skilled foreign workers, with current strategies proving less effective compared to other Western nations.
- According to data, only 21% of foreign clicks on UK jobs pertain to high-wage positions, a figure lower than countries like France and the Netherlands.
- Food preparation and retail roles are seeing the highest foreign interest, overshadowing opportunities in more specialised fields.
- Despite Brexit challenges, overall interest in UK jobs has grown, indicating potential yet to be harnessed.
- Many Brits seek opportunities abroad for better living standards, highlighting a gap in domestic workplace satisfaction.
The UK is encountering difficulties in luring highly skilled foreign workers, with current strategies proving less effective compared to other Western nations. According to Indeed, the UK ranks among the lowest in attracting foreign clicks on high-wage job opportunities, with just 21% participation— well behind France’s 36% and the Netherlands’ 35%.
Food preparation and retail roles are seeing the highest foreign interest, overshadowing opportunities in more specialised fields. The largest share of foreign clicks for UK jobs in the first half of 2024 were directed towards sectors such as food service, constituting nearly 9%, followed by retail and others like education and software development.
Despite Brexit challenges, overall interest in UK jobs has grown, indicating potential yet to be harnessed. Job searches from abroad made up 4.9% of total searches in July 2024, a significant rise from 3.2% in 2019. While this growth outpaces the EU, the complexities introduced by Brexit pose hurdles in reforming immigration policies to attract talent efficiently.
Many Brits seek opportunities abroad for better living standards, highlighting a gap in domestic workplace satisfaction. With a considerable 62% of Brits interested in international work, motivations include a better quality of life, improved weather, and higher income potential. However, many employers are not equipped to manage these international aspirations.
A trend observed is that smaller, economically open countries continue to draw a larger share of foreign job seekers. Luxembourg, for instance, sees 77% of its job searches originating from outside its borders, offering a poignant contrast to the UK’s relative struggles in this arena.
The UK needs to align its immigration policies and job offerings with global expectations to remain competitive in attracting and retaining top talent.
