Migrant workers jobs could be cut by 270,000

The number of jobs open to skilled migrant workers could be cut by as many as 270,000 under new proposals put forward by a Home Office committee.

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%.

Other recommendations were:

• only social workers for children remaining on the list, all others should be removed
• changes in the skill threshold for care assistants and chefs
• the removal from the list of some pharmacist and nursing jobs

Professor David Metcalf, chair of the Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) said "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,"

"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."