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Government responds to review of shortage occupation lists
13 May 2009
The Government has responded to the Migration Advisory Committee's recommendations following its review of the shortage occupation lists.
Occupations are put on the lists if there is a shortage of resident workers to fill skilled jobs in those occupations. For all other skilled jobs, employers cannot recruit workers from outside the European Economic Area until they have completed a resident labour market test.
Immigration minister Phil Woolas said:
'The reduced job shortage list means migrants can only fill skilled vacancies through this route where there is a significant shortage of local workers to do the work. This does not mean that all jobs on the list will go to foreign workers. In fact, only a small proportion of these jobs, which employers are unable to fill with British workers and those already here, will go to people from outside Europe.
'Any skilled job not on this list must now be advertised in a Jobcentre Plus - giving British workers and those already here the chance to apply for them first.
'This is yet another example of how the government can use the flexibility of the points-based system to ensure migration works for everyone in these changing economic times.'
The new shortage list, which applies to tier 2 of the points-based system, will come into force on 15 June.