UK cuts more jobs for non-EU workers

The David Cameron government has accepted the recommendation of the Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) to specialist jobs such as pharmacists, veterinary surgeons, and speech and language therapists.

The changes to the list come into effect today.

Occupations that the MAC recommended 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 are actuaries; high integrity pipe welders; environmental scientists; and, geochemists.

The ‘shortage occupation list’ is a list of jobs that Britain allows non-EU professionals to come here and take up employment. It is part of the Tier 2 immigration route via the Points Based System.

Highly skilled migrants from outside the European Economic Area (EEA) seeking to work in the UK must apply for visas via this route.

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

Immigration Minister Damian Green said: "Alongside our limits on overseas workers we are also taking action to provide businesses with the skills they need from the British workforce and reduce their need for migrants".

"We want the brightest and the best people from outside the EU with the skills we can benefit from in the UK," Green said.

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.

Employers can only bring someone into the UK under Tier 2 if the job is on the shortage occupation list or if they pass a resident labour market test (no suitable resident workers apply after advertising the job in the UK first for four weeks).