March 14th 2011 - "The UK government, Immigration Minister Damian Green,
has announced that it will remove 8 occupations from the points-based system's shortage occupation list"
Source - UKBA
The UK government has announced that it will remove 8 occupations from the points-based system's shortage occupation list.
If an occupation is on the shortage occupation list, this means that there are not enough resident workers in the UK to do the available
jobs in that occupation. When the 8 occupations are removed from the list, the number of jobs available to migrants under the list will be reduced from
500,000 to around 230,000.
The government is also removing 71 professions from the list of 192 approved jobs under Tier 2 of the points-based system, as they
have been deemed to be below graduate level. Under new rules to be introduced in April, anyone wishing to enter the UK under Tier 2 must be coming
here to do a job that is deemed to be at or above graduate level.
This announcement follows the government's decision to accept all of the Migration Advisory Committee's (MAC) recommendations
following the publication of 2 reports looking at graduate-level jobs and
the shortage occupation list for Tier 2.
The MAC estimates that, of the 8,400 certificates of sponsorship issued in 2010 to workers on the shortage occupation list, 65 per cent
would not have qualified under the new criteria.
Immigration Minister Damian Green said:
'These changes to the shortage occupation list will ensure that only skilled workers are coming to the UK through Tier 2 of the points-based
system. It will allow firms to bring in people with necessary skills without migrants becoming the first resort to fill a wide range of available jobs.
'This government is also determined to get people back to work and provide business with the skills they need from the British workforce -
reducing the need for migrants at the same time as we reduce their number.'
The government has now commissioned the MAC to review shortages across the entire labour market, with a view to amending the
shortage occupation list
Graduate-Level Jobs
As part of its review of the immigration system, the government raised the threshold for Tier 2 visas to 'graduate level' and commissioned
the MAC to examine which occupations should qualify. The government asked that the MAC use the National Qualifications Framework (NQF) level 4 and
above as the relevant benchmark. This will reduce the number of occupations qualifying for Tier 2 visas by 71, down from 192 to 121.
The shorter list of occupations means that Tier 2 applicants will only be able to apply for jobs covering the most skilled 39 per cent of the
labour market rather than the current 56 per cent. Chair of the Migration Advisory Committee, Professor David Metcalf, said:
'Skilled foreign workers make a valuable contribution to the British economy but, in the context of limits on migration, it is essential that
the immigration system is designed to select those migrants we need the most. We have recognised this by ensuring our recommendations will allow the
most skilled to continue to come and work here.'
Among the occupations which would still qualify for entry under Tier 2 of the points-based system are:
- - nurses,
- - teaching professionals,
- - civil engineers
- - finance analysts and
- - investment analysts.
Occupations which were qualified as skilled to the old level but are not to the new one include:
- - retail managers,
- - hairdressing and beauty salon managers,
- - laboratory technicians, and
- - estate agents.
The shortage occupation list for Tier 2.
The Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) has today recommended that 8 job titles be removed from the UK shortage
occupation list. This follows the MAC's recommendation last month that 71 occupations be removed from the list of occupations that
qualify for Tier 2 of the points-based system. This is to meet the government's objective of raising the skill level of Tier 2 to National
Qualifications Framework level 4 and above (NQF4+).
To bring the shortage occupation list into line with the rest of Tier 2 the MAC has recommended removing job titles including;
- - high integrity pipe welder,
- - skilled meat boner,
- - skilled meat trimmer and
- - skilled senior care worker.
Some job titles are recommended for amendment. The MAC found that only a small proportion of chefs are skilled to NQF4+.
Chef jobs on the list are, therefore, recommended to be restricted to those requiring a minimum of 5 years relevant experience and paying at
least £28,260 per year.
Chair of the MAC, Professor David Metcalf, said:
'Placing limits on migration requires that we are far more selective and ensure only highly skilled migrant workers can come
to work in the UK. For instance, only the top 5% of chef jobs will be open to Tier 2 workers under these recommendations as a result of a
more stringent earnings threshold.'
The MAC estimates these recommendations, if accepted, will mean Tier 2 applicants coming into the country via the shortage
occupation route will only be eligible for approximately 230,000 jobs (less than 1 per cent of the labour market), down from 1 million jobs when
the MAC produced its first shortage occupation list in 2008. The combined impact of these recommendations plus those made by the MAC
last month will be that the proportion of jobs in the UK labour market at a skill level eligible for Tier 2 will fall from 56% to 39%.
The government will respond before 6 April 2011 to the MAC's recommendations.
To discuss the proposed Occupation Shortage List changes and how they may affect you, or if you have further enquires
on immigration to the UK, Singapore, Australia or the USA, please contact Ambler Collins Visa Specialists and we will undertake a
complimentary assessment of your eligibility. Email us at: info@amblercollins.com
Adrian Dawson
AmblerCollins Immigration & Visa Specialists
Eden House
59 Fulham High St.
London SW6 3JJ
United Kingdom
Ph + 44 (0) 20 7371 0213
Fax + 44 (0) 20 7384 4504
E-mail: adrian@amblercollins.com
Skype: amblercollins
If you have further enquires on immigration to the UK, Singapore, Australia or the USA, please contact Ambler Collins Visa Specialists and we will
undertake a complimentary assessment of your eligibility. Email us at; info@amblercollins.com
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