Business Weekly - Cambridge, UK

A new study has been commissioned by food and drink sector skills council, Improve, to provide the definitive say on the economic impact of migrant workers on the East of England’s £9.3bn food and drink manufacturing industry.

The research is the first  since 2005, when 74 per cent of employers in the sector who had taken on migrant workers reported a positive impact on productivity and profits.

However, the number of overseas nationals working in the industry has more than trebled in the past three years, with an estimated 9,000 now employed in the East of England (Labour Force Survey, 4 quarter average 2007).

“Many companies simply couldn’t stay in business if it wasn’t for foreign labour,” said Improve chief executive, Jack Matthews. This study will provide concrete evidence about the impact migrant workers are having which will give us a better understanding of some of the wider labour trends in the industry.”

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