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UKBA issues revised shortage occupation list
October 18, 2011
In line with the UK government”s attempts to reduce the number of jobs available to foreign nationals, UKBA has released a revised shortage occupation list which will take effect from 14 November 2011.
The Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) made recommendations to reduce the number of jobs included on the list, after compiling evidence from a spectrum of industries and sectors. Their conclusion that UK workers are available to fill the vacancies in certain areas will see the number of jobs on the shortage occupation list reduced by 40,000, taking the total down from 230,000 to 190,000.
The government has accepted the MAC”s recommended list in full, however, rank and file orchestral musicians will not be removed from the list immediately, until further discussions take place with the industry to discuss the resident labour market test.
Occupations to be removed from the list include:
• secondary education biology teachers;
• speech and language therapists;
• pharmacists;
• orthoptists;
• veterinary surgeons; and,
• rank and file orchestral musicians.
Added to the list will be:
• actuaries;
• high integrity pipe welders;
• environmental scientists; and,
• geochemists
For applications covered by the annual limit, the new list will apply to all applications by Tier 2 sponsors for restricted certificates of Sponsorship made on or after 14 November 2011.
For applications outside the annual limit, the new list will apply to all unrestricted certificates of sponsorship assigned to migrants on or after 14 November 2011.
Newland Chase will be glad to provide guidance or clarification as to how these changes may affect employers seeking to sponsor migrant workers to come to the United Kingdom. For further details, please contact us.
