Britain preferring Indians to fill skill shortage

London, Jun 25 (UNI) One in five firms in the UK is looking to employ Indians and other foreigners to an swer shortage of skills, rather than hire indigenous Britons, a report says.

The news comes after a Government report said Britons were out of work because they lack motivation and ''employability'', not because of competition with foreign workers.

A survey by recruitment firm Manpower found that migrant workers were continuing to be welcomed to the UK by employers keen to recruit skilled staff, especially doctors, nurses, chefs and labourers.

Staff were being recruited mainly from Poland, India, Latvia, Australia and Lithuania.

At the same time, more than half of UK workers would consider moving abroad for work, with Europe, Australia, the United States, Norway and Canada topping the destination wish-list.

The survey of more than 28,000 employers and 29,800 workers showed that globally the UK was the second most popular country for people to relocate for work, behind the United States.

Mark Cahill, managing director of Manpower UK, said: ''The UK has a widely recognised skills shortage which many employers are struggling with.

''By being open-minded about how this can be addressed - including looking to overseas talent - many employers are able to meet these challenges.

''As pressures from an ageing workforce and low birth rate grow, these shortages will become more apparent.

''Workers coming to the UK cover a wide spectrum of roles from highly skilled positions such as medical doctors and accountants to manual trades and labourers. What is consistent is that these people are motivated to work and are able to address skills shortages.

''Many UK workers would consider a move abroad for work to experience new cultures and to develop new skills. At the same time, the UK is benefiting from foreign workers who bring much needed skills and help add to the diversity of the workplace.'' Manpower said the flow of workers into and out of the UK was a ''win-win'' situation for British industry.

Earlier this month a Government study into the impact of migration found that the arrival of a million Eastern Europeans in the past four years has not damaged wages or led to an increase in unemployment among natives.

However, some Britons were on the dole because of ''issues around basic employability skills, incentives and motivation'', its report said.

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