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'Bosses choosing committed foreign workers over lazy British'
Last updated at 11:39am on 08.03.07
Polish workers arrive in the UK
Bosses are being forced to hire record numbers of migrants because they have a 'shockingly low opinion' of local British workers, according to a new report.
The survey, from the British Chambers of Commerce, revealed the rock-bottom opinion held by bosses of many British workers.
The bosses of more than 300 small and medium-sized businesses were asked: "What reasons do you have for employing migrant workers?."
They said migrant workers from anywhere from Poland to India have "a better work ethic" and are "more productive".
British workers also lack the "required skills" and there is a short supply of local "candidates with required experience."
David Frost, director general of the business lobby group, said it is "troubling" how British businesses are turning away from British workers.
He said: "It is troubling that so many businesses do not want to employ British workers. The UK's chronic skills shortage must be addressed by the Government and reform of the school curriculum is needed to ensure that young people enter the workforce with the necessary skills and the right attitude to get on at work."
The survey found that the majority - an overwhelming 75.8 per cent - think migration is beneficial to the economy.
The influx of Polish workers into Britain since May 2004 has been particularly welcomed by bosses who value their work ethic and skills.
Phil Inness, managing director of Axis Electronics, said: "Around 20 per cent of our workforce is Polish. In three years of employing from eastern Europe, we haven't had one negative experience. The only concern I have is that at some point they might want to go home."
Jo Lynch, human resources manager at Thomas Storey Fabrications, said: "When we need to take on a number of people relatively quickly, we find it easier to recruit from Eastern Europe as there is a larger supply of workers with the right skills."
It is the second time in only a few weeks that research by a major business lobby group has berated the failiings of the British workforce.
Last month, the Institute of Directors said employers think migrants are harder-working, more reliable and better skilled.
A separate report from the Association of Graduate Recruiters said half of major employers are unable to fill graduate vacancies because students lack basic work skills.
Prized graduate jobs have to be left open every year even though universities are turning out soaring numbers of students.
Bosses blame this on the low calibre of graduates, even those with first or upper second-class degrees.
One graduate going for a job at an investment bank began his interview saying: "You all right mate?"
Mr Frost said the Government should be wary of letting businesses rely on migrant workers despite their huge popularity.
He said: "It is unsustainable to import our way out of the failings of the UK education system. I hope the findings of the survey focus minds and ensure that the Government takes seriously the lack of employable British workers in the jobs market."
Reader views (7)
Do we really think that immigrants poor into our country for all our well paid jobs, public services, good food, and fine weather?
I think not!
The fact is the Polish women are all way better looking than the British laddettes- they work hard and you dont see them falling over themselves at 3am on a Saturday night or going home with some random guy from a nightclub.
I say let them all in.
- Dee, notts
In my experience british will do any job ... if the price is right. Unfortunately, the price is wrong and it will continue to be wrong for as long as employers continue to import cheap labour from outside the UK that keeps wages low. The truth is that its cheaper to import 'ready-trained' workers than to train new british ones. Nothing to do with the British being lazy at all. Employers will never invest in training programmes, because they're able to get ready-trained employees without the expense. Basic economics shows that skills shortage in any field of labour is always remedied in any economy by offering higher wages. Higher wages act as an incentive for people to train to enter these fields. Importing cheaper skilled labour will always mean that there will be a shortage of british skillled labour because there is no financial incentive for the British to train and re-skill. By choosing to import skilled labour and notinvesting in re-training programmes for british workers then the countries from which they emigrated from will also be deprived of their skilled workforce also, and that will only exacerbate that country's economic problems.
- John Letts, London UK
I don't think that we should keep employing foriegn workers in our country. Yes they may be hard working but some are claiming hundreds on benefits and sending it home. We are paying to keep Poland and a few other countries afloat by giving them all our money, but when a British family need to claim they are either turned down or get a pitiful amount that they can't survive on. So we go looking for jobs but there arn't any as the Polish are taking them all. It is a vicious circle it's no wonder so many of our own are living on the streets or moving abroad.
- Alex Bennett, Nottinghamshire
I started employing Polish workers in 2004 simply because I was sick and tired of many unreliable UK workers failing to turn in for their shifts. In addition there was an acute labour shortage in the transport industry which the UK government failed to recognise caused in the main by their beligerent denial of reality. Employing Polish workers has been a huge success through an improved service delivery, high quality customer care and reliability. Their 'work ethic' is truly awesome which I think stems from a sense of pride and personal dignity.
- Peter Ashton, Nottingham UK
I am proud of my country and the people who live here as well as those who have chosen to live in UK. They are really well-qualified and highly educated workers and it's no wonder that they are so prized by your employers.
- Ewelina Wróblewska, Olsztyn, Poland
Finally, the positive aspects of immigration are becoming evident. Hopefully this will now combat the bitter xenophobia which is becoming more evident in Britain's society.
With regards to the building trade, I work as an architect and have noticed how the majority of small contractors who use foreign labour are in praise of the work ethic.
In my experience the majority of British Builders are cowboys and hopefully this will give them a good kick up the derriere to stop ripping people off and providing shoddy work.
- Peter Dee, Hamilton, Bermuda
Of course the newcomers have a "better work ethic and are more productive" they have not been worn down by years of living in rip-off Britain. Once they have benefitted from all that Britain has to offer i.e. the mortgage, the credit cards, the parking tickets, the community charges, the charges for the Olymics, the congestion charges the rubbish collection charges, crime, antisocial behavior, etc, perhaps then the newcomers will not be quite as productive or as perky and optimistic as they are now!
- Ted Johnston, London, UK
