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A list of jobs for which there is deemed to be a shortage of skilled workers in the UK has been released.A list of jobs for which there is deemed to be a shortage of skilled workers in the UK has been released.
If the government adopts the Migration Advisory Committee's recommendations firms will be able to seek workers from outside the EU in the jobs listed. The Migration Advisory Committee was asked by ministers to say which type of jobs had shortages and should be open to workers from outside the EU.
They include specialist nurses and consultants, some engineering jobs, maths and English teachers but not care home workers or nuclear energy workers. Its draft list includes skilled nurses and consultants, some engineering jobs, maths and English teachers but not care workers or nuclear energy workers.
The government claims it will cut the number of jobs open to non-EU workers. Ministers say they will publish the final list next month.
The recommended list for Scotland includes all of the jobs on the UK-wide list plus frozen fish filleters, senior elderly care nurses and speech therapists. Home Office minister Tony McNulty said the MAC's list "seems broadly right" but he wanted to study it in more detail and test its findings.
The list was drawn up by a panel of academics, The Migration Advisory Committee, and it is up to the government to decide whether to adopt the recommendations.
Home Office minister Tony McNulty said the list "seems broadly right" but the government would report on the findings "in the Autumn".
The list will be part of the government's "points-based migration" system aimed at better tailoring non-EU immigration to the needs of business.The list will be part of the government's "points-based migration" system aimed at better tailoring non-EU immigration to the needs of business.
The government says this system is more effective than simply bringing in limits on overall numbers. MAC chairman, Professor David Metcalf, said that an employer would have to clear three hurdles to be able to hire somebody from outside Europe.
Professor David Metcalf, the chairman of the Migration Advisory Committee, said that an employer would have to clear three hurdles to be able to hire somebody from outside Europe.
"Firstly the job has got to be skilled, secondly there has got to be a shortage, and thirdly and perhaps most importantly, it has to be sensible to bring a person in - there we are looking at the tension between the short-run fix of bringing immigrants in and the long-run need to upskill the economy," he said."Firstly the job has got to be skilled, secondly there has got to be a shortage, and thirdly and perhaps most importantly, it has to be sensible to bring a person in - there we are looking at the tension between the short-run fix of bringing immigrants in and the long-run need to upskill the economy," he said.
The changes, which involved looking at 12 different indicators, will result in a more skilled labour supply, he added.The changes, which involved looking at 12 different indicators, will result in a more skilled labour supply, he added.
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According to the list, maths and science teachers are still needed, but secondary school teachers in other subjects, allowed in under the current system, will face restrictions.According to the list, maths and science teachers are still needed, but secondary school teachers in other subjects, allowed in under the current system, will face restrictions.
Midwives, social workers and IT technicians from outside the EU are all no longer needed, according to the list.Midwives, social workers and IT technicians from outside the EU are all no longer needed, according to the list.
Only care workers earning at least £8.80 an hour will be allowed to come to Britain from later this year - a salary level most care-home owners will not be able to pay.Only care workers earning at least £8.80 an hour will be allowed to come to Britain from later this year - a salary level most care-home owners will not be able to pay.
"It is so far above what the medium pay levels are within care homes for senior care workers, it is just not going to be achievable," said Mandy Thorn, a board member of the National Care Association."It is so far above what the medium pay levels are within care homes for senior care workers, it is just not going to be achievable," said Mandy Thorn, a board member of the National Care Association.
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She said the sector had tried to recruit from the UK and Europe but had not been able to attract sufficient numbers. More staff are needed to support a growing number of vulnerable people, she added.She said the sector had tried to recruit from the UK and Europe but had not been able to attract sufficient numbers. More staff are needed to support a growing number of vulnerable people, she added.
Occupations which are allowed to use foreign workers due to shortages include ship and hovercraft officers and racehorse trainers.Occupations which are allowed to use foreign workers due to shortages include ship and hovercraft officers and racehorse trainers.
There is also a shortage of skilled chefs, civil and chemical engineers and veterinary surgeons, while quantity surveyors and project managers are needed for property development and construction.There is also a shortage of skilled chefs, civil and chemical engineers and veterinary surgeons, while quantity surveyors and project managers are needed for property development and construction.
Some other occupations in the hospitality and construction industries were considered by the MAC but rejected from the final list.Some other occupations in the hospitality and construction industries were considered by the MAC but rejected from the final list.
On Sunday an all-party group of MPs called for "balanced migration" and four-year limits for foreign workers.On Sunday an all-party group of MPs called for "balanced migration" and four-year limits for foreign workers.
The group said Britain will not be able to cope with an estimated seven million additional migrants forecast to arrive by 2031.The group said Britain will not be able to cope with an estimated seven million additional migrants forecast to arrive by 2031.