From 2004-2006, more than a million foreign workers entered the UK with long term work permits, with the option of staying permanently. About 700,000 came from Eastern European countries that joined the EU in 2004, but the rest came from non-EU countries including India. Such large-scale migration has reshaped the country’s population profile. Five million individuals, equivalent to 10% of Britain’s 50 million adults, are now foreign born.  As expected, public opinion is divided on whether the entry of foreign workers has been negative or positive overall. Foreign workers can be found in all areas of the UK.  However large communities are located in London, the South East, East Anglia and Scotland. Most are employed in health care, construction, cleaning, education, agriculture, IT and food manufacturing. Skilled foreign workers are issued work permits when there are no local workers or employees available.

Jobs in the U.K.

This is widely practiced in the case of IT professionals. In just one year, some 32,000 work permits were given to IT-skilled Indian nationals assigned by their employers to British offices. Recently, brighter economic prospects in their own countries have reduced the number of Eastern European foreign workers migrating to Britain. Industries such as fruit farming are now faced with the prospect of shortages in seasonal agricultural workers.

Moving to the UK

London has become the world’s second most expensive city, second only to Moscow.  It used to occupy fifth place. Transportation rates are far and away the highest, above Tokyo, Paris, New York and even Moscow.  The real crunch is in the tremendous increase in real estate prices. Thousands of executives based in London have driven prices up, looking for the right housing. A luxury two bedroom apartment in London can set you back by as much as 2000 pounds a month.  A cup of coffee costs two pounds.

You have to be prepared for the initial costs of relocation to London. You have to pay a bond amounting to six weeks rent plus one month’s advance rent. That’s a total of 10 weeks rent. If you haven’t arranged a house or apartment ahead of your arrival, you need to prepare for temporary accommodations such as a hotel room.  You will also need money for transportation, Internet use, mobile phone charges,  and the like. You can save a fair amount of money by preparing your own meals. If it is possible and practical you can try living outside London to save on rent and daily expenses.

Job Prospects in the UK

The UK is facing a serious skills shortage, the worst being in the manufacturing sector, followed by the public and services sectors.  The projection is, the shortage will grow worse, which will make it necessary for employers to encourage immigration of foreign workers to the UK.  The UK is also investing in skills training, getting women and older people to work, and accepting flexible hours and working arrangements.
The skills shortage are most obvious in engineering (20%), skilled manual workers (10%), financial capitalists (10%), managerial positions (9%), sales, IT and technicians (7%), and clerical staff (5%). There is a shortage of healthcare workers in 32% of public-sector organizations and shortages in finance (18%), IT (13%), and clerical areas (10%) in the public sector.

Typical Salaries and Benefits in the UK

Top executives are the best-paid individuals in Britain, followed by doctors who earn 81,744 pounds a year. In 2005, the over-all average earnings amounted to 28,2210 pounds a year.  Aside from doctors and top executives, the top earners are lawyers, marketing executives, communications managers, public sector officials, and insurance underwriters. Unfortunately not only the number of workers in the industrial sector has plummeted down, so have their wages.  Plumbers earn only 24,500 pounds a year. Teachers earn more than 30,000 pounds, higher than the salaries of civil and electrical engineers.

A report on migrant workers in the UK described them as “overworked, underpaid and over here.” There are documented cases of workers receiving wages lower than the industry minimum and working extremely long hours in jobs that most UK workers would not accept (such as low paid work in construction, farming and domestic service). This is especially true for those who are in the country illegally.

Basic Data on Taxes in the UK

Non-residents are taxed only on UK sourced income. Resident individuals are taxed on their global income and gains.   Double taxation of non-UK income and gains can be avoided through bilateral tax treaties. The bigger percentage of government income comes from income tax.  Individuals are allotted a certain income tax allowance, and this allowance is tax-free. For the year 2007-2008, the allowance amounts to 5,225 pounds.

High Demand Jobs in the UK

The highest number of work permits issued was for workers in the health and medical services, computer services and administration, and business and managerial services sectors. The top occupation groups are the IT and health and medical groups, and managers and administrators.  The top countries of origin were India, the U.S.A. and South Africa. Provisions were also made for seasonal agricultural workers and highly skilled workers. Employers in industries such as fruit growing rely heavily on foreign workers and argue against a cap in the hiring of foreign seasonal workers.

Immigration and Visa Issues in the UK

Employers usually bring in foreign workers through work permits. Workers can enter the UK through a visa or entry certification issued by immigration officials in the British Embassy or Consulate in the worker’s country of origin. The work permit allows the foreign worker to stay in the country from one to five years.      Foreign workers fall under three classifications: those entitled to free movement of labor with few restrictions; those whose specific jobs and length of employment are fixed such as domestic workers; and those who need a work permit.

Best Job Locations in the UK

The unemployment rate is highest in London (8%), followed by the North East (6.9%), West Midlands and Yorks/Humber (6.1 and 6.0%), North West, Wales and East Midlands (5.6%, 5.4% and 5.3%); Scotland and East (5%), North Ireland and South East (4.7 and 4.5%), and South West (3.9%). The cost of living is also highest in London but the other side of the coin is that the city offers historic sites and more current attractions such as chic clubs and restaurants and hit plays.

Find Jobs via Websites in the UK

A useful government job site: http://www.agencycentral.co.uk/jobsites/government.htm
Jobsgopublic is a UK targeted job board focusing on the public sector.
JobTrack UK
www.jobtrack.co.uk
The Employment Service
www.jobcentreplus.gov.uk
Helps find nearest job center.
Monster Board
www.monster.co.uk
Advertised as one of the UK's top web job sites.
Gis-a-job
www.gisajob.co.uk
Advertised as largest free recruitment website in the UK.
IT Jobs Post
www.itjobspost.com
For IT jobs. Free, no registration needed.