Social work among skilled jobs for migrants cut by 300,000

The number of skilled jobs in Britain open to migrant workers from outside Europe is to be cut by nearly 300,000 because of sharply rising redundancies and unemployment.

The government’s Migration Advisory Committee says more than 100,000 skilled construction jobs, including managers and quantity surveyors, on large property projects should immediately be closed to overseas workers. The number of unemployed construction managers has soared by 500% in the past year while vacancies have plummeted by 80%.

Social workers who work with adults are also to be removed from the official shortage occupation list and further restrictions placed on senior care assistants who look after 200,000 older people.

But the government’s advisers have decided that orchestral musicians, Sadlers Wells-standard contemporary dancers and special-effects animators in the film and video industry should be added to the official shortage list of skilled occupations allowing overseas staff to be recruited.

Professor David Metcalf, chair of the Migration Advisory Committee (MAC), said the new shortage list took account of the impact of the worldwide recession on Britain and reduced the numbers of jobs open to skilled workers from outside the European Economic Area from 800,000 to 530,000.

“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,” said Metcalf.

The advisory committee is to start an urgent review of the impact of the recession on all the other occupations on the shortage list, with changes expected in September regarding teachers and chefs.

“It is important to note that some shortages of skilled labour will still exist in a recession,” said Metcalf. “This can be where there is a long-term structural shortage of skilled workers, where workers provide key public services, or in areas such as culture where the UK needs to maintain global leadership.”

The decision to remove social workers involved in adult services from the official shortage list follows the introduction of new initiatives to increase the number of students on social work courses and to improve the retention of more experienced workers.

The decision to ban recruitment of international qualified social workers, however, will not apply to those involved in child and family services, where it is considered that a national shortage remains. The MAC’s report says recruitment difficulties in this area have been exacerbated by the negative media image of social workers responsible for children.

The changes in the rules for senior care staff in the social care sector also follow complaints that the £8.80 an hour wage rate defining a skilled care worker was set too high. The advisers have decided to lower the qualifying wage rate to £7.80 an hour but added the criteria that they also need to have two years’ experience, an NQF level two qualification and supervisory responsibilities. The effect is to reduce the number of care jobs open to overseas staff from a third of the sector to about a fifth.

The decision to add orchestral musicians to the shortage list is designed to enable internationally renowned musicians to work in Britain on more than short-term contracts. The decision has the backing of the Musicians Union and will only apply to those working for leading British orchestras, such as the London Symphony, in permanent positions.

Contemporary dancers join ballet dancers on the national shortage occupation list. The MAC report say Britain’s conservatories and colleges are not turning out enough world-class performers to feed the growing workforce.

The home secretary, Jacqui Smith, is expected to implement the recommendations, which form part of the operation of the new points-based immigration system.