Businesses are being given the choice of advertising jobs only to British residents, the Government has announced.

Ministers said they are pushing through changes to the way jobs are advertised abroad to migrants.

Under European Union rules, all vacancies on the Government's Universal Jobmatch website are automatically advertised across Europe.

Ministers said they wanted to make sure British workers get first sight of jobs.

Employment minister Esther McVey said reforms had come a step closer following a decision in Brussels.

She said: "We are giving businesses the choice of advertising their jobs only to British residents - it's only right that they get that choice.

"Under this Government, British nationals have accounted for two-thirds of the rise in employment. With new vacancies being created every single day, we want to make sure people here get the first chance to secure those jobs too.

"The new rules will significantly reduce the number of jobs advertised in Europe and put British residents first, and we will continue work with countries across Europe to ensure the system remains fair to jobseekers and to businesses.

"As part of our long-term economic plan, we now have a record number in employment in this country.

"Behind these figures are individual stories of hard work and determination, stories of people turning their lives around, of families who are now feeling more secure over the Christmas period with a regular wage. If we can tip the scale more in their direction it's got to be a good thing."

All EU member states have a legal requirement to advertise vacancies to jobseekers across the EU through the EURES jobs portal.

The Government said it had also put in place plans to force overseas-only recruitment agencies to advertise in English.