The government’s proposals for ending freedom of movement after Brexit could put Bristol and the West of England 's economy at risk, a new report has found.
Skills and salary thresholds proposed in the 2018 immigration white paper could “severely” limit future inward migration and hamper growth in crucial parts of the local economy , according to the research by Business West and the Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR).
The report found that if these proposed thresholds were applied to EU employees currently living in the region, 75 per cent would be found ineligible to live and work in the 海角视频, putting business growth at “major risk”.
Over the last decade the number of EU migrants in Bristol has risen and migrants now make up 16 per cent of the city’s population, working across all industries.
The report found that many employers rely on recruiting EU citizens and certain sectors, including hospitality and social care, are particularly reliant on migrant workers.
Rohan Roy, policy assistant at Business West, said: “The findings show that growth in critical sectors could be seriously curtailed by the government’s proposed changes to the migration system
"Many businesses we spoke to are unprepared for the new rules, which they believe would lead to skills shortages.
“The current proposed changes put at risk our region’s Local Industrial Strategy, which forms the basis of our local authorities’ economic and job growth plans.”
Most Read
David Sproxton, founder and executive chairman of Aardman, which is behind much-loved characters Wallace and Gromit, believes losing the pool of EU workers will put the region at a "disadvantage".
He added: “The visual effects industry has grown much faster than other parts of the British workforce, and this has been in large part due to the ability of the 海角视频 to attract skilled and creative EU workers.
"European staff provide a unique asset, in part because of the longer and more vocational training they receive and in part because they bring a different cultural nuance, which adds to the creativity and innovation of our productions."