UK Needs More Sheep Shearers, Fewer IT Workers

September 12, 2008 - Britain needs more racehorse trainers, ballerinas and sheep shearers and fewer computer technicians and care workers, a government-appointed panel said.

The list of occupations experiencing skill shortages was published this week by the Migration Advisory Committee (MAC), set up last year to help the government implement a points-based immigration system designed to reduce the number of workers arriving from outside Europe. If the government approves the list, the number of jobs open to migrant workers will fall to 700,000 from 1 million, according to the panel of economists, which examined 353 occupations.

Math and science teachers are needed, and teachers of other subjects will face restrictions, according to the committee. There are also shortages of skilled chefs, civil and chemical engineers, veterinary surgeons, quantity surveyors and project managers for property development and construction. Foreign midwives, social workers and information technology technicians are no longer needed and only care workers earning at least 8.80 pounds ($15.5) an hour would be allowed to come to Britain when the new system comes into force in November.

The new system "is flexible to meet the needs of British business while ensuring that only those we want and no more can come here to work,'' said David Metcalf, a London School of Economics professor. "This tough new shortage occupation list supports that.''
Reprinted in part from www.bloomberg.com

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