A MAJOR business organisation claims remaining in the EU could see the creation of more than 80,000 jobs.

The CBI (Confederation of British Industry) says that according to Treasury figures there is the potential to create 82,240 future jobs in the region if the UK continues to deepen economic ties with its member states.

The organisation says UK’s membership of the EU has helped boost job creation and growth in the south east for 40 years, with as many as 450,000 jobs in the region currently linked to exports to the Single Market.

Several key sectors in the region depend on the Single Market:

  • 102,720 manufacturing jobs in the South East are linked to UK exports to EU countries. Remaining in the EU and extending the Single Market could see an additional 8,100 manufacturing jobs being created in the region l 55,010 jobs in wholesale and retail trade are boosted by trade with the Single Market.
  • 11,420 jobs could be added to the South East’s distribution and retail sector by staying in, and strengthening, the Single Market
  • 13,120 jobs in banking and business sectors could also be created in the South East through strengthening the Single Market.

Malcolm Hyde, CBI South East Director, said: “Some of the key sectors that lie at the heart of communities across the region, from manufacturing to retail, rely on our membership of the Single Market.

“Virtually every economist agrees that leaving the EU would likely cause an economic shock, damaging the South East’s prospects. We’d not only put a dent in what we have now, we’d also miss out on thousands of jobs in the near future, as a result of losing access to the Single Market, pulling the rug from under our local economy.

“This is why the majority of businesses want the UK to remain inside the EU, to best drive growth, support and create jobs, and increase prosperity for our region.”

The CBI speaks on behalf of 190,000 businesses of all sizes and sectors, which employ nearly seven7 million people, about one third of private sector-employees.

With fewer than 48 hours to go before voting begins in the EU referendum the business community is still largely behind the remain camp.

In a recent JLL survey of top international corporate occupiers and UK-based investors 80 per cent held the view that the UK will vote to remain in the EU.

The car industry has also called for the UK to stay in the EU.

A statement from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders said a Brexit would risk jobs in the industry.

Directors at Toyota UK, Vauxhall, Jaguar Land Rover and BMW, as well as from component makers GKN and Magal Engineering, also backed the Remain campaign.

However, a survey of operators in the UK hospitality industry has found that 49 per cent planned to vote leave, with 43 per cent backing remain and seven per cent still undecided.

In the sSouth eEast 53 per cent of those surveyed were for Brexit and, 42 per cent for remain and five per cent for leaving.

The survey by RPBi, the hospitality data and news specialist, found that the majority of recipients – whether voting to leave or to remain – believe a leave vote would have a ‘negative impact on the economy’.

Commenting on the results of the survey, Keith Britten, director of RPBi, said: “Surprisingly, for the hospitality industry, the majority of respondents said that there would be no impact on recruitment in the event of a leave vote; with only a third saying it would likely be harder to recruit.”

He concluded: “After analysing the comments and survey results, the one key fact that stands out is that whichever way people decide to vote, the majority believe that a leave vote would have a negative impact on the economy.

“However, those voting to leave suggest that the negative impact will be short-lived and the benefits will be reaped in the long-term.”

With polls showing a swing back to remain over the weekend the FTSE 100 matched global stock markets and rose sharply as investors piled back into equity markets after concerns of a British exit from the European Union eased over.

The index was up by more than 2 per cent, rising 130.6 points to 6151.8 in morning trading, yesterday bouncing back from last week’s losses after opinion polls begin to point towards Britain remaining in the EU.

Housebuilders, banks and airlines saw the biggest gains on the FTSE, with Land Securities rising 4.09 per cent to £11.44, Royal Bank of Scotland gaining 6.98 per cent to £2.37 and British Airways owner International Consolidated Airlines up 4.6 per cent.

Sterling rose sharply against the dollar - the pound rose 1.49 per cent against the greenback to $1.45 on Monday morning after last week’s losses.