Work-related immigration to the UK reached its lowest level since 2013, according to a report Thursday from the Office of National Statistics. And the Recruitment and Employment Confederation warned the numbers point to the need for a post-Brexit strategy for EU citizens in the UK as the lack of clarity is making the UK less attractive to EU workers.

The overall fall in work-related immigration can largely be accounted for by a decrease in EU citizens moving to the UK for work since the year ending June 2016, according to the ONS. The number of EU citizens arriving for work fell to 92,000 in the year ending March 2019, down from the peak level of 190,000 in the year ending June 2016.

“Using the data sources available to us, we can see that EU immigration is falling,” said Jay Lindop, director for the Centre for International Migration at the ONS. “There are, however, still more EU citizens moving to the UK than leaving, mainly for work, although the picture is different for EU8 citizens, with more leaving the country than arriving.”

The REC noted total EU net migration was at 59,000 in the year ending in March, less than a third of its peak level of 219,000 in the year ending March 2015. It said a managed transition strategy for Brexit is needed for EU citizens living and working in the UK to avoid a disaster.

“The government must stop posturing and urgently develop a transition plan that ensures EU citizens currently working here feel welcomed and can continue to do so from day one after Brexit,” said Tom Hadley, director of policy and campaigns at the REC. “It is hard to believe that government continues to leave businesses and EU citizens in the dark, with such little clarity on the biggest questions with just 10 weeks to go.”

Hadley continued: “Brexit uncertainty, the lack of clarity on what no-deal means for EU citizens working here, coupled with a weak pound, are making the UK less attractive to EU workers. This is hugely concerning given that REC’s jobs data shows that UK employers are already struggling to find candidates to fill essential vacancies”.

The CBI also warned the statistics point to a worsening skills shortage.

“The downward trend in EU net migration in the last couple of years — combined with record low unemployment — means that skills shortages are getting worse”, said Matthew Fell, CBI chief UK policy director. “Business understands that free movement is ending, but it marks a huge change in the way firms access skills and labour. They’ll need proper time to adapt to a new system.”

However, the prospect of post-Brexit restrictions on migration may be helping to ease the tightening labour market now, according to the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development.

“It is no surprise that EU citizens are less keen on coming to the UK to work. However, it is curious that fewer EU nationals are leaving the UK for work given the fall in the value of the pound and the continued political uncertainty,” said Gerwyn Davies, senior labour market adviser at the CIPD.

“It seems possible that many EU citizens who have yet to secure settled status may be fearful of the consequences of leaving the UK if they wish to return, especially those EU citizens who have yet to secure settled status,” Davies said. “The prospect of migration restrictions may therefore perversely be helping employers to ease their recruitment difficulties in the short-term.”