For the first-time ever, 36,015 non-EU IT workers entered the UK in 2016. In 2012, the number of arrivals of skilled IT workers from non-EU nations was 23,960.
The major factor behind this is skills’ shortages in IT sector for UK businesses that are unrelentingly increasing.
Although British politicians concentrate more on UK workers losing jobs owing to EU workers, they are overlooking the fact that many non-EU IT workers are employed by the country’s companies.
This was revealed by data made public by SJD Accountancy, an accountancy firm that provides services contractors with private limited companies. It added that most of these people recruited were in the fields of web design and development specialisations.
Derek Kelly, CEO at SJD Accountancy, was quoted by Computer Weekly as saying that the UK is more dependent on foreign talent now than compared to the pre-recession times. He said that these numbers demonstrated the UK IT sector’s growth would be hurt if they are not able to keep pace with requirements for IT skills.
These numbers show that the expansion of the UK tech sector is at risk if they are unable to keep up with needs for IT skills. Kelly said skill shortages can hold up projects and hike costs for companies.
In addition, many IT startup companies are worried about the UK exiting the EU as most of them depend on skills and investments coming in from the EU. They fear that startup centres all over the Continent would attract skilled workers who would be dissuaded from relocating to Britain post-Brexit.
If you are looking to migrate to the UK, get in touch with Y-Axis, a leader among immigrant consultancy companies, to apply for a visa.