In brief...: Global skills 'will be vital'

Jun 13 2008

A new report has highlighted fears that hostility towards immigration could hamper firms which need to attract highly skilled migrant workers.

Workers from the European Union and other countries will be needed to fill jobs in science, healthcare and technology because of skills shortages and an ageing UK population, The Work Foundation said.

Multinational companies in "knowledge intensive" industries, such as high-tech manufacturing and business services, which may locate offices in the UK, need access to skilled workers, the report said.

Author Katerina Rudiger said that despite hype over the numbers of migrant workers arriving in the UK, the level of skilled workers moving in is relatively low.

"Global firms need more global people - not just to fill shortages, but for the sake of enabling firms to innovate.

"The UK's best bet for making the most of globalisation is to tap the increasing flows of highly qualified people around the world," she said.

About 167,000 highly skilled people have moved to the UK in the last few years, the report said, adding that politicians should actively promote highly skilled migration.