Brexit Explained

The term ‘Brexit’ refers to the decision made by the government for the United Kingdom to leave the EU (European Union). If you are unsure of what the EU is exactly, it is a political union consisting of 27 countries within Europe and was established in 1993 with its goals being those of promoting peace, economic prosperity and cooperation among its members.The UK is the only country to have withdrawn from the EU since its formation and there were mixed opinions within the UK regarding whether this was the right course of action to take.

As you can see, the word Brexit is derived from two words - British and Exit. After a referendum in 2016, the process of Brexit officially took place in early 2020. Brexit had quite significant political, economic and social implications for both the UK and the EU and it is still widely discussed today with many people forming changing attitudes. Incidentally, the UK would need the approval of all the other members, and that of the European Parliament if it were ever to rejoin.

There were many reasons why the UK decided to leave the Eu and these included the feeling that the EU just was not delivering what it should be, which included a prosperous economy, protection against crime and terrorism, immigration control and efficiency regarding public services.

The impact of jobs in the UK because of Brexit has been a cause for concern and debated on a regular basis. The effects are complex and varied, depending upon many differing factors. This includes the type of industry, the size of the companies involved and what agreements were negotiated. However, it is relatively early days and government politics and the current economic climate play a crucial role in shaping the post Brexit jobs market which is ever changing.

However, there are some potential impacts that may be affecting jobs in the UK - good and bad. Unfortunately one of these is loss of jobs. Certain industries relied upon trade with the EU but disruptions and reduced access may have had a detrimental impact. On the contrary, certain other sectors have experienced growth due to new trade opportunities with countries that are not members of the EU because now the UK can negotiate its own deals in this post Brexit era.

There has been much focus on the effect it has had on the availability of both skilled and unskilled workers from countries within the EU, coming to the UK to fill gaps in the jobs market and this may have had certain impacts in various industries.

The UK may have more control over its laws and regulations now it has departed from Brexit which creates a myriad of opportunities but can also add challenges due to complexities for businesses needing to adjust to the new set of rules. This can all lead to UK job movements and a change in opportunities, both positive and negative.

It is important to bear in mind that any long term impacts due to Brexit will take time to unfold and it is still evolving as many businesses adapt to the new post Brexit conditions and in the meantime, it is still a very hot topic for debate!