Specialist jobs to be removed from government-approved list

According to a recent report, the UK government has accepted recommendations from the independent Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) to remove certain specialist jobs from the shortage occupation list. According to the MAC there are UK resident workers available to fill the vacancies. 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 will be: actuaries; high integrity pipe welders; environmental scientists; and, geochemists 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. The revised list will come into effect from 14 November 2011.