International Organization for Migration (IOM)

Improving Access to Labour market Information for migrants and employers
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may buy in specialist advice to ensure that they are abiding by legal requirements
for recruiting and employing non-EEA workers.
Employers use a combination of recruitment methods. There are some variations
by size of employer, with large employers tending to follow formal procedures
and smaller employers tending to rely more on informal methods. There are also
differences by sector. Agencies often play a significant role.
The Internet is increasingly important in facilitating information flows between
employers and prospective migrants in the job search and recruitment process,
between government agencies and employers, and between government agencies
and individuals. It is also important for migrants seeking training resources and
careers advice, and general information and advice services about living and
working in the United Kingdom, as well as for social networking purposes.
In the United Kingdom non-EEA migrants may face barriers to employment associated
with the validation of the level and scope of non-UK qualifications, recognition of
their work experience, poor English skills and a lack of understanding of how the
UK labour market operates. Rather than specific programmes designed for the labour
market integration of migrants, the trend has been towards more personalized support
and delivery in public employment and related services. Historically, communitybased
organizations have played an important role in supporting migrants but such
organizations are increasingly struggling for funding at a time of austerity.
1. Introduction
1.1. Labour market trends
Changing economic conditions
The United Kingdom experienced a sustained period of real GDP growth between 1992
and 2007. Subsequently output fell in early 2008 and growth did not resume until the
middle of 2009. Following a period of slow or negligible growth the United Kingdom
economy output contracted once again in the fourth quarter of 2011 and contraction
continued in 2012, putting the United Kingdom into a double dip recession.
During the period since 2008 the employment rate remained higher than might
have been expected based on the experience of previous recessions in the United
Kingdom (Gregg and Wadsworth, 2010). The employment rate for those aged from
16 to 64 was 71.2 per cent, up 0.5 on the quarter. In September 2012 there were
29.56 million people in the United Kingdom in employment aged 16 and over. The
number of full-time workers was 21.44 million and the number of part-time workers
was 8.12 million, but more people than ever before were working part-time because
they could not find a full-time job. This is indicative of under-employment. The
unemployment rate, as defined by the International Labour Organization (ILO),
and the claimant count rate (measuring claimants of Job-seekers Allowance [JSA])
reached recent highs of 8.4% and 5.0%, respectively, in the three months to December
2011, and rates remain considerably higher than their pre-recession values). During