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Anne Fairweather, the REC's Head of Public Policy, commented:  “It is encouraging to see that the overall positive economic impact of immigration is recognised by the Home Office.  Skills shortages are also a problem at the lower skilled end of the jobs market and it’s vital that any immigration policy takes this into account. 

"However, there is a real danger that the current points based system will not deliver the workers that are needed in areas such as hospitality and social care.  Construction is also an area of increasing concern. 

"Month on month, our Report on Jobs shows that the engineering and construction industries are experiencing the highest level of recruitment difficulties.  As more and more construction projects are commissioned, from schools and house building to power stations and the Olympics, the labour needs of this sector should be kept under close review.

 “Whilst it is clear that immigration is a necessary component of our jobs market, how it is managed is still a concern.  Central Government should respond more quickly to the changing populations at a local level so that local authorities are resourced to respond to these changes.”

The REC is a member of the Home Office’s Employer Taskforce which looks at the development of the points based system for immigration.  The REC is also committed to encouraging legal migration and feeds into the Home Office’s work on illegal working through the Illegal Working Stakeholder Group.