Fall in number of migrant workers

The government says migrant workers fill gaps in the labour market

There has been a big fall in the number of migrant workers from Eastern Europe registering to work in the South West.

Figures from the Home Office worker registration scheme, showed 60% fewer people for the first quarter of 2009 - 1,635 compared with 4,255 in 2008.

The Devon Race Equality Council said migrant workers still contribute significantly to the economy.

Spokeswoman Agnieszka Szpinda said: "They pay taxes and take low-skill jobs English people usually wouldn't take."

Agricultural jobs

She said the recession in the UK was a factor in the decline in workers.

"Many now can't find even low-skilled jobs and think this is the time to go back," Ms Szpinda added.

The figures relate to workers from the A8 accession states - including countries like Poland and the Czech Republic.

The government said migrant workers were continuing to help fill gaps in the labour market, particularly in agriculture, food and meat processing.

Nationally, 720,000 National Insurance numbers were issued to foreign workers in the year to September 2008, according to the Office for National Statistics - 7% down on the previous year.