88% of EU workers in UK not eligible for work visas

Six per cent of the UK’s workforce is made up by EU employees.

However, if a Brexit was to occur - rendering free movement of labour inapplicable - 88% of current EU workers would not qualify for current UK visa requirements, according to joint research by the Social Market Foundation and Adecco Group UK & Ireland.

13% out of the 1.6 million EU workers currently make-up London’s workforce, yet three quarters of those working (ten per cent) would not meet visa requirements set for non-EU migrants.

Only 12% of current EU workers in the UK would qualify, and an even lower percentage of employees in the private sector would be eligible.