London and the UK’s net international migration has steadily increased in recent years, and EU migration accounts for much of this increase.
Work is the main reason EU migrants come to the UK. In 2015 around 12 per cent of the five million jobs (600,000) in London, were held by workers born in EU countries.[2]
Certain sectors in London such as hospitality and health are especially reliant on EU-born workers.
Roughly a third of employees in the accommodation and food services sector (79,000 jobs) were born in EU countries[3] and roughly one in ten NHS workers (60,000) in London are from the EU.[4]
The London Assembly Economy Committee will tomorrow investigate the short and long-term effects of Brexit on migration in London. Is there any evidence EU nationals are planning to leave the UK following the referendum result? What impact will possible changes to migration policy have on sectors like hospitality and health?
The Committee will hear from:
- Madeleine Sumption, Director, Migration Observatory, Oxford University
- David Goodhart, Head of Demography, Immigration & Integration, Policy Exchange
- Sunder Katwala, Director, British Future
- Danny Mortimer, Chief Executive and and Director of Employment Relations & Reward, NHS Employers
- Ufi Ibrahim, Chief Executive, The British Hospitality Association
- Piotr Kubalka, Member, British Polish Chamber of Commerce
This meeting is the fourth and final in a series of meetings about the effects of Brexit on London. You can view the previous meeting on financial services and SMEs here, workers’ rights here and big business here.
The meeting will take place on Tuesday, 17 January from 10:00am in The Chamber at City Hall (The Queen’s Walk, London SE1).
Media and members of the public are invited to attend.
The meeting can also be viewed via webcast.
Follow us @LondonAssembly and take part in the meeting discussion using #AssemblyEconomy and #EUExit.
Notes to editors
- Full agenda papers.
- Number of jobs by country of birth and job holder, Annual Population Survey 2015, ONS
- Annual Population Survey, 2015, ONS
- English Health Service’s Electronic Staff Record
- Fiona Twycross AM, Chair of the Economy Committee is available for interview. See contact details below.
- London Assembly Economy Committee.
- As well as investigating issues that matter to Londoners, the London Assembly acts as a check and a balance on the Mayor.
For media enquiries, please contact Lisa Lam on 020 7983 4067. For out of hours media enquiries, call 020 7983 4000 and ask for the London Assembly duty press officer. Non-media enquiries should be directed to the Public Liaison Unit on 020 7983 4100.