Reduction in jobs available to migrants

Specialist jobs that are no longer required in the UK will be removed from a government-approved list that helps to ensure the UK only accepts migrant workers that the country needs.

The shortage occupation is part of the Tier 2 immigration route via the Points Based System. Highly skilled migrants from outside the European Economic Area seeking to work in the UK must apply for visas via this route.

The government has accepted recommendations from the independent Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) that will see the number of jobs covered by the list drop by 40,000, bringing the total down from 230,000 to 190,000. Only a minority of these jobs will be filled by migrant workers.

The MAC recommended the changes where evidence from a range of industries and sectors showed resident workers are available to fill the vacancies.

Occupations that the MAC recommended be removed from the list include pharmacists, orthoptists and veterinary surgeons. Added to the list will be actuaries, high integrity pipe welders, environmental scientists and geochemists.

The revised list will come into effect from 14th November 2011.