The number of UK workers planning a move to the EU has returned to its post-referendum high, according to new data from Indeed, the world’s largest job site.

Ireland is the largest beneficiary of this trend, attracting 21.4% of searches, followed by France with 17.5%, Spain with 12.8% of searches, Germany with 11.7% and Italy 8.2%.

In the immediate aftermath of the referendum result on June 24, 2016, the number of UK jobseekers looking for roles in other EU countries soared, as thousands of Britons explored their options following the Leave campaign’s surprise victory.

Indeed say that while the spike seen in the days following the 2016 referendum quickly subsided, the steady increases seen in 2017 and 2018 hint at a more significant, sustained trend.

With the UK due to leave the EU in March 2019, the first quarter of 2018 saw British searches for jobs in the EU climb again, rekindling fears of a ‘Brexodus’ of talented workers to other EU member states. Searches for jobs outside the UK have reached a level 15.2% higher than that recorded in the pre-referendum first quarter of 2016.

Commenting on the research, Economist and Senior Fellow at Indeed, Tara Sinclair said, "Brexit has dominated the EU landscape and also the relationship between the UK and Ireland for two years and this is also reflected in the labour market. Proximity plays a role, and it makes sense that we are seeing the UK’s nearest neighbour and fellow English language-speaking member state attract the largest share of jobseekers."

She added, "A ‘Brexodus’ is once again a very real possibility. While the initial spike in Britons’ searches for EU jobs might be dismissed as a knee-jerk reaction - inspired by either curiosity or panic - 2018’s steady and sustained return to those levels suggests more Britons are thinking more seriously about a move to elsewhere in the EU."

Source: www.businessworld.ie