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Report finds immigrants favoured over British jobseekers

A new report has discovered that eastern European workers are often favoured over British jobseekers by employers.

Centre for Cities discovered that many managers consider immigrants to be more reliable, punctual and motivated in their work.

As a result, they are getting many more of the low-paid, lower-status jobs which Britons are turning to as a result of rising unemployment levels.

Dermot Finch, director of Centre for Cities, said that while eastern European workers previously helped to fill skills shortages and allowed firms to grow.

However, "the recession is now starting to change the dynamic between the east European migrants and local labour markets", he added.

There was even evidence of one recruitment firm operating an 'immigrants only' policy.

Similarly, some employers are now taking on younger workers on lower wages over older members of staff, a survey conducted for the Recruitment and Employment Federation by Markit Economics and KPMG discovered.