Immigration to the UK for work has fallen to its lowest level since 2014, according to data from the Office of National Statistics.

Data from the ONS showed that immigration to the UK for work-related reasons stood at an estimated 231,000 persons in the 12 months ending September 2018.

The fall in work-related immigration was driven by a decline in EU citizens coming to the UK.

The number of EU citizens coming to the UK looking for work stabilised over the last year, with an estimated 34,000 arriving in the 12 months ending September 2018. This follows a fall from a peak in 2016.

In the same period an estimated 70,000 EU citizens arrived in the UK with a definite job. This was down from peak levels seen in 2016 and 2017, bringing the number back to a level that was last seen in 2013.

Meanwhile, EU net migration fell to a level last seen in 2009 due mainly to a decrease in EU immigration. Despite this, EU citizens continued to add to the UK population, with an estimated 57,000 more EU citizens coming to the UK than leaving in the 12 months ending September 2018. The number of EU citizens who came to the UK was an estimated 202,000.

“The decrease in work-related immigration over the last two years can be largely accounted for by the recent fall in the number of EU citizens arriving with a definite job and the previous fall in the number of EU citizens looking for work,” the ONS stated.

“The fact that the number of people coming to the UK for work has fallen to the lowest levels since 2014 is concerning at a time when UK firms are already struggling to find candidates to fill vacancies in sectors as varied as technology, health and hospitality,” said Tom Hadley director of policy at the Recruitment & Employment Confederation. “Providing workers from the EU with clarity on what their future working opportunities and rights will look like is a huge priority.”

Hadley continued, “Brexit uncertainty, with a lack of clarity on what no deal means for EU citizens working here, coupled with a weak pound is making the UK less attractive to workers from the EU27.”