According data from hiring platform In factspanstyle=”font weight: 400 ;”>,, the UK falls behind other Western countries in attracting highly-skilled foreign workers. Only 21% of clicks by foreigners on UK job postings are for roles that offer the highest third of salaries – between 35,200 and 91,000 PS per year.
The UK is the second-lowest share of advanced economies analysed, behind Spain, with 39% of clicks for UK jobs coming from foreign countries. 39% of the foreign clicks on UK jobs are from low-paid jobs. The low percentage of clicks for high-paying occupations in the UK is in contrast to the goal of the current immigration policies, which is to attract high-skilled workers from abroad.
When looking at which job categories are experiencing the greatest growth in foreign interest, it becomes apparent that the UK has limited success in attracting the best-paying jobseekers. In the first half 2024, food preparation and service positions accounted for nearly 9% of all foreign clicks – the most of any category. Retail jobs accounted for 5.7% of all foreign clicks. Education, management, and software development positions rounded out the top five job categories that saw the most interest. Indians are most interested in UK jobs, followed by candidates from Pakistan, Spain and France.
Foreign jobseeker interest in UK jobs rises
The UK struggles to attract highly-skilled workers from abroad but overall, foreign interest in UK job opportunities remains high. In July 2024, international searches for jobs represented 4.9% of all searches. This is a 54% rise compared to the 3.2% share in 2019 and pre-Brexit. The number of international searches for jobs has increased by 54% compared to the 3.2% share in 2019 and pre-Brexit.
Brexit has complicated the UK immigration policies. A new points-based system makes it harder for employers to hire EU citizens and other foreign workers. In a survey conducted in August 2024 of 1522 UK employers and employees, employers were divided on whether Brexit would help them or hinder their ability to hire talent from outside the UK. 35% thought it would help and 33% believed it would hinder.
Brits are looking for a better life – and a higher income – overseas
Brits are also keen to live and work in other countries, with 62% stating that they would do so. Many UK employers, however, aren’t fully prepared to handle international working arrangements. Nearly half of employees (47%) say that their employer does not permit overseas work. Two in five (42%) employers do not have a working abroad policy. This highlights a gap between employee and employer interest.
Brits are unanimous in their belief that they will enjoy a better lifestyle if they leave the UK. Workers are motivated to look for work abroad by the prospect of better weather (33%), lower living costs (32%), and a higher quality of life (54%). 64% of workers believe that working abroad will provide better work-life harmony.
Brits are not only looking for foreign jobs because of lifestyle reasons. The majority of workers believe that their career prospects will also improve, as they say there are many more opportunities for employment outside the UK. 54% think their incomes would also increase.
Smaller countries with high standards of living are attractive to foreign job seekers
According to data from Indeed, small countries with an open economy and a high standard living are more likely to attract foreign job seekers. Luxembourg has the largest proportion of foreign job seekers compared to its size, with 77% coming from overseas. Oman (55%), Kuwait (45%), Switzerland (44%), and Qatar (36) are also among the countries with the highest share of foreign job searches.
Pawel Adrjan is Director of EMEA and APAC Economic Research at Indeed. He commented, “Countries will benefit by increasing their attractiveness in order to meet the evolving needs of their labour market, as well as to remain competitive within a global context where highly skilled professionals are more mobile.” Data from Indeed shows that, despite a rise in interest by foreigners in UK jobs, the UK is still lagging behind other Western countries in terms of attracting highly-skilled workers. This is in direct conflict with the current immigration policy.
As borders lose their relevance for workers, states and businesses must provide not only attractive salaries, but also high-performing education and healthcare systems and political stability. Immigration policies should be aligned with these efforts. Our research found that while 35% of employers cited legal red tape to be a major challenge in hiring workers outside the UK, 40% agreed that current immigration policy will support their efforts. In recent years, the number of people searching for UK jobs abroad has increased dramatically. This suggests that there are many candidates who are ready to fill these roles .”
The original version of this article, UK struggling to attract highly qualified foreign workers, appeared first on Human Resources News.
