MAC reviews UK immigration shortage occupation list
April 30 2009 by Robbie Ragless
The Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) has undertaken a review of the list of occupations that are experiencing skills shortages that can be filled by people moving to the UK from outside the EU.
A number of key changes have been recommended by the MAC in response to rising unemployment in the UK and the continuing recession:
• The occupations, ‘quantity surveyor’ and ‘managers in construction’ have been removed from the list of shortage occupations in light of the slowing construction industry.
• Some job titles in the healthcare profession have been removed; others have been added.
• The skills threshold for chefs and care workers has been changed.
• ‘visual effects and computer animation technicians’, contemporary dancers’ and ‘orchestral musicians’ have been added to the list of shortage occupations.
• All social woker occupations have been removed with the exception of social workers for children and families.
MAC’s chair of committee, Professor David Metcalf, says, “these latest recommendations take account of the impact of the worldwide recession on the United Kingdom. We have looked critically at the evidence regarding the occupations under review and made recommendations which balance the needs of the UK workforce against those of employers.”
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