Commenting on the latest official migration statistics published today by the Office for National Statistics and the Home Office, Jonathan Boys, Labour Market Economist at the CIPD, the professional body for HR and people development, comments:

"A familiar pattern is starting to emerge in the quarterly migration statistics. EU net migration has fallen to a level last seen a decade ago. For Central and Eastern European countries, the balance has actually turned negative with more EU citizens leaving than arriving.

"Like businesses, people crave certainty, so they can plan their lives so it is not surprising there is a declining appetite for EU citizens to come live and work in the UK.

"Given the important role that EU citizens play in key sectors of the economy, the figures highlight the need for the post-Brexit immigration system for EU nationals to be as low cost and user-friendly as possible for both employers and individuals. With record high employment and the effect of skills shortages starting to bite, the government needs to be in full listening mode in its consultation with employers over the proposals in the immigration white paper, to ensure that businesses are able to continue to access the skilled and unskilled workers they need from the EU post Brexit."

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