Brexit could exacerbate skills gap

Separation from the EU would make it harder for UK companies to recruit from other countries, a consortium of engineering firms has said

A vote for Brexit next month could deepen a 1.82 million shortfall in skilled workers, a consortium of large engineering firms and professional engineering institutions has warned.

The group, which includes Airbus UK, Caterpillar, Siemens UK, Rolls-Royce and Mott MacDonald,  said separation from the EU would make it harder for UK companies to recruit from other countries.

Engineering UK estimates that 182,000 extra skilled workers will be needed every year for the next 10 years to fulfil growth in the engineering and manufacturing sector. Voting to leave would put engineering science and research at risk because funding from the EU might be withdrawn, and the UK would lose the ability to influence the direction of EU research, the group added.

In addition, Brexit would weaken the UK’s ability to influence global engineering standards and negatively affect trade with EU countries, they said.