Survey reveals impact of Brexit vote on EU workforce

A new report on the university workforce suggests that, while the EU referendum has, to date, had a limited impact on universities’ ability to recruit and retain international staff, uncertainty about the future status of EU staff has been damaging to morale.

The new Higher Education Workforce Survey 2017 from the Universities and Colleges Employers Association (UCEA) reveals that two-thirds of universities have said that the EU referendum had had no impact, to date, on their ability to recruit staff from the EU.

Currently, 17% (33,735) of academic staff at UK universities are from other EU countries.

Responding to the survey, Alistair Jarvis, Acting Chief Executive of Universities UK, said: “This survey highlights the need to provide certainty on work and residency rights for all EU staff currently working in UK universities. The government’s initial offer did not go far enough in providing the certainty and welcome that our European staff deserve. We need to see an improved offer as negotiations develop.

“The UK Government must ensure that the UK continues to welcome, with minimal barriers, talented EU staff and students. EU students and staff make an enormously important contribution to UK universities. We have to make them feel welcome here, or risk losing them to competitor countries.”

• More information on the Higher Education Workforce Survey 2017 is available from the  Universities and Colleges Employers Association (UCEA) website.
• At the start of the exit negotiations, Universities UK published a set of five priorities for the negotiations. Fuller details of these priorities can be found in the Universities UK briefing What should be the government’s priorities for exit negotiations and policy development to maximise the contribution of British universities to a successful and global UK?
• Universities UK is the representative organisation for the UK’s universities. Founded in 1918, its mission is to be the definitive voice for all universities in the UK, providing high quality leadership and support to its members to promote a successful and diverse higher education sector. With 135 members and offices in London, Cardiff (Universities Wales) and Edinburgh (Universities Scotland), it promotes the strength and success of UK universities nationally and internationally.