Hostility towards immigrants could stop companies attracting highly-skilled workers from abroad, a report has said.
The Work Foundation said skilled migrants were needed in areas such as science, healthcare and technology.
Report author Katerina Rudiger said the UK needed to be seen as an open and attractive place for skilled employees.
Meanwhile, campaigners Migrationwatch say government figures show just 8% of 2.3 million immigrants in the past 16 years came from Eastern Europe.
'Limit work permits'
The Work Foundation said despite the high-profile immigration debate, the number of skilled workers moving to the UK was "relatively low".
It said official figures showed 167,000 highly-skilled workers came to the UK in 2005, but more were needed if Britain was to prosper in a global market.
But Sir Andrew Green, chairman of Migrationwatch, told BBC Radio 4's Today programme a cap should be introduced to limit the length of work permits to four years.
If we are going to say, 'You can come for four years, then you're out' why would anyone try to make a long-term future in UK industry?
This, he said, would provide a "proper incentive" to British employers to train British workers.
"At the moment, if you can take a skilled worker off the shelf, you are going to do so, obviously, especially if your competitors are going to do so," Sir Andrew said.
The Work Foundation said skilled migrants were needed in areas such as science, healthcare and technology.
Report author Katerina Rudiger said the UK needed to be seen as an open and attractive place for skilled employees.
Meanwhile, campaigners Migrationwatch say government figures show just 8% of 2.3 million immigrants in the past 16 years came from Eastern Europe.
'Limit work permits'
The Work Foundation said despite the high-profile immigration debate, the number of skilled workers moving to the UK was "relatively low".
It said official figures showed 167,000 highly-skilled workers came to the UK in 2005, but more were needed if Britain was to prosper in a global market.
But Sir Andrew Green, chairman of Migrationwatch, told BBC Radio 4's Today programme a cap should be introduced to limit the length of work permits to four years.
If we are going to say, 'You can come for four years, then you're out' why would anyone try to make a long-term future in UK industry?
This, he said, would provide a "proper incentive" to British employers to train British workers.
"At the moment, if you can take a skilled worker off the shelf, you are going to do so, obviously, especially if your competitors are going to do so," Sir Andrew said.
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