The Shortage Occupation List – a list compiled by the Migration Advisory Committee (MAC), which sets out the areas where there are skills shortages in the UK – has been revised and is in force as of the 14th of December 2009. This list shows which vacancies the Government deems necessary (due to a shortage of the necessary skills within the UK and the European Economic Area (EEA)) to fill with migrant workers from outside the EEC.

The main changes from December can be summarised as follows:
• A revised list of healthcare and engineering professionals
• The continued inclusion of chefs, ballet dancers, work riders, veterinary surgeons and secondary teachers in maths and science, and sheep shearers.
• The addition of special needs teachers and skilled meat boners and trimmers.
• The removal of ship and hovercraft officers.

This list does not mean that migrant workers are prioritised for shortage roles. At the same time, employers are required to advertise any roles that may be filled by a migrant worker for 4 weeks before allowing it to be filled by a non-EEC worker. In the current economy, rife with unemployment, it is obviously preferable for these roles to be filled by UK or EEC residents.

 

What does this mean for employers?

Talent development and retention is more important now than ever so employers should ensure, if they employ workers with a scarce skill, that they make every effort to provide working conditions and benefits (financial or otherwise) that encourage these workers to stay and continue to offer this skill to their business and not a competitor’s. Where possible, training is well worth considering in order to enhance skills and help you develop an extremely competitive work force. In many cases however, this will not be possible as many of the scarce skills require significant formal training beyond that which can be offered in the workplace.