Latest figures show EU migration has dropped to lowest level since 2012
The latest EU migration figures are 鈥渄eeply worrying,鈥� according to the Federation of Master Builders (FMB).
The Office for National Statistics revealed EU net migration is at its lowest since 2012, with around 88,000 more EU citizens coming to the UK than leaving in the year ending March 2018.
Some 226,000 EU citizens came to the UK and 138,000 EU citizens left during the period.
The quarterly report said the number of EU citizens coming to work in the UK has continued to decrease, with a particular dip among those migrating to start a job they have already obtained.
Director of external affairs at the FMB, Sarah McMonagle, said: 鈥淭his is deeply worrying for those sectors that rely on workers from the EU. At present 9% of our construction workers are from the EU and therefore we are more reliant than most on EU workers.
鈥淚n London this proportion rises to nearly one third. We can鈥檛 afford to lose any more EU workers as two-thirds of construction SMEs are struggling to hire bricklayers and 60% are struggling to hire carpenters and joiners.鈥�
She added: 鈥淚f the Government wants its new homes and infrastructure projects built, it needs to do more to back up our industry鈥檚 message to all EU workers 鈥� they are welcome and they do have a bright future here in the UK.鈥�
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