The number of employers in the UK seeking migrant workers is growing, despite high levels of joblessness, a new study claims.

In the report, the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) and KPMG show more than one in five of 759 bosses polled plan to recruit such members of staff during the first quarter of this year.

As a result, the study warns the temporary cap placed by the government on migration is hampering the ability of firms to employ the skilled non-European Union (EU) candidates they need.

The Labour Market Outlook notes 17 per cent of respondents claim the cap, which runs until April when it will be replaced with a permanent upper limit, has blocked them from hiring new members of staff from overseas.

Of those questioned, 63 per cent reported an increase in productivity as a result of non-EU workers and 43 per cent stated they find it hard to fill vacancies from within the EU, with particular issues with finding candidates for engineering, accounting, health and finance jobs in the UK.

"We should not forget that the UK still has skills shortages in many key areas," CIPD public policy adviser Gerwyn Davies commented.

The report comes as the British Chambers of Commerce calls on the government to commit to policies that support growth and job creation in its annual Budget next month.

Posted by Lee Thrace