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Half of High-Skilled EU Workers in U.K. Eye Leaving, Study Says

Half of High-Skilled EU Workers in U.K. Eye Leaving, Study says

(Bloomberg) -- Almost half of Britain’s supply of highly skilled workers from the European Union are considering leaving in the next five years, according to a report by Deloitte LLP.

Warning of the risk posed by Brexit to the labor market, the study published on Tuesday said 47 percent of such workers are eyeing the exit door. Overall, 36 percent of non-British workers are thinking the same.

“Overseas workers, especially those from the EU, tell us they are more likely to leave the U.K. than before,” said David Sproul, a senior partner at Deloitte. “That points to a short to medium-term skills deficit that can be met in part by upskilling our domestic workforce, but which would also benefit from an immigration system that is attuned to the needs of the economy.”

The study was based on a survey of 2,242 foreign workers, half of whom live in the U.K. For those living abroad, Britain still made it into the top three most attractive destinations.

To contact the reporter on this story: Simon Kennedy in London at skennedy4@bloomberg.net.

To contact the editors responsible for this story: James Hertling at jhertling@bloomberg.net, Andrew Atkinson