THE number of EU citizens looking to work in Dorset is down by a third since Brexit, figures suggest.

Statistics from the Department for Work and Pensions show how many foreign nationals have successfully applied for NI numbers, which are required to work or claim benefits.

Figures show that the deficit has been noticeable in Weymouth and Portland where in the 12 months up to March this year 137 people from the EU registered for NI numbers, down from 245 in the 12 months before the Brexit referendum in June 2016.

The data divides European workers into three groups.

It identifies people from the EU15 – countries that joined the bloc before 2004 like France, Spain and Germany.

The EU8 countries joined in the 2004 enlargement, and include Poland and the Czech Republic. The EU2, Romania and Bulgaria, joined in 2007, but could not move to the UK to work until 2014.

The biggest drop in new workers registering post-Brexit was from the EU15.

In Weymouth, in the 12 months up to March, 49 EU15 citizens signed up for NI numbers, 49 fewer than before the referendum.

And the number of Romanians and Bulgarians registering for NI numbers reduced by 34 or 47 per cent.

The data does not explain why the numbers have reduced.

Possible factors under discussion include post-Brexit uncertainty or other factors such as the improvement of the economies in residents’ home countries. Poland, for example, currently has a record low unemployment rate.

In West Dorset, the number of registrations dropped from 315 prior to the referendum to 278 in the 12 months to March this year, while in Purbeck registrations dropped from 189 to 172.

There has been concern that there will be a workforce gap after Brexit, particularly in catering, construction and agriculture.

The DWP said the figures should not be used to indicate immigration levels as foreign nationals may have been in the country for some time before applying for an NI number. According to the ONS’ latest nationwide immigration statistics Romanians moved above Irish and Indians to become the second most numerous non-British nationality in the UK, after Poles.