This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-27407126

The article has changed 9 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
First Romanian and Bulgarian workforce figures released First UK Romanian and Bulgarian workforce figures released
(35 minutes later)
There were 140,000 Romanians and Bulgarians employed in the UK in the first three months after visa controls were lifted, figures show.There were 140,000 Romanians and Bulgarians employed in the UK in the first three months after visa controls were lifted, figures show.
The number was down by 4,000 on the final quarter of 2013, but showed an increase of 28,000 compared with the same time last year. This was down by 4,000 on the final quarter of 2013, but up by 28,000 compared with the same time last year.
On 1 January, Bulgarians and Romanians gained the same rights to work in the UK as other EU citizens.
The Office for National Statistics figures show the number of people employed in the UK by country of birth.
The government has not said how many new arrivals it expects as a result of the visa changes.
The pressure group Migration Watch estimated the UK could expect 50,000 arrivals a year from the two countries and the UK Independence Party predicted large numbers of new immigrants.
Chief Secretary to the Treasury Danny Alexander says the data "gives the lie to UKIP's scaremongering on immigration".
Mr Alexander said: "The very modest number of Romanians and Bulgarians coming to work in Britain this year is in stark contrast to the inflammatory rhetoric of earlier this year."