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The Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) has made further recommendations for additions to the shortage occupation list. The MAC feels that Teachers in special schools and skilled meat boners and trimmers and certain other occupations should be added to the shortage occupation list.
The Government usually takes recommendations of the MAC seriously and it is likely that these recommendations will be followed. If the recommendations are accepted UK employers will be able to employ people in a greater range of occupations without the necessity of carrying out a resident labour market test. This will make it much easier to make Tier 2 visa applications.
The MAC has also made the following recommendations for further additions to the shortage occupations list:
- Specialised jobs in the electricity transmission and distribution industry.
- Some medical specialisms, including higher-level speciality paediatrics trainees.
- Aircraft technicians and fitters.
Skilled chefs should remain on the skilled occupation list. At the same time the MAC would like to see more efforts to train the resident work force to fill chef jobs ahead of next year's review.
The MAC also feels that due to economic circumstances the following occupations should be removed from the shortage occupation list:
- Certain engineering and construction jobs
- Ship and hovercraft officers.
The MAC reviewed all healthcare and engineering occupations, chefs, teachers (further/higher, secondary, primary, and special needs education teaching professionals), town planners, managers in construction, quantity surveyors, ship and hovercraft officers, veterinary surgeons, sheep shearers, work riders, ballet dancers, skilled fish filleters, meat boners and trimmers. The MAC reviews the shortage occupation list on a regular basis and has reviewed all occupations originally on the list at least once since September 2008 when it first produced recommendations for the shortage occupation list.
Professor David Metcalf CBE chair of the MAC, made the following comments:
'The points-based system, including the shortage occupation list, has to operate for the benefit of UK workers, especially given the current economic climate.
'The Migration Advisory Committee's latest recommendations take account of the impact of the worldwide recession on the UK. We have looked at the evidence and made recommendations that balance the needs of the UK workforce against those of employers.
'It is important to note that some shortages of skilled labour will still exist in a recession. This can be where there is a long-term structural shortage of skilled workers, where workers provide key public services, or in areas such as culture where the UK needs to maintain global leadership.'
