UK shortage occupation list

As part of the ongoing assessment around skill shortages in the UK, the Home Office Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) has asked that a review of the shortage occupation list be undertaken every six months.

NHS Employers will be presenting evidence to the Home Office to support the inclusion of healthcare posts on the national shortage occupation list where there is a need expressed by employers. If you want to contribute to the review to ensure the NHS needs are met, this is your opportunity to present evidence to form part of our response.

The questions you need to consider are:

• Which occupations, grades and specialities are you experiencing recruitment difficulties with? (eg: Consultant in Renal Medicine; Staff Nurses Band 6 and above in Theatres)
• How long have you been having difficulty filling these posts? (Approximate timescales only eg: 1-3 months, 3-6 months).
• Is the lack of skilled labour affecting productivity? Please provide examples where possible.
• To what extent are you being forced to use alternatives to migrant labour? (eg: recruitment and retention premia; outsourcing; changing role to fit the available labour market skills)
• What are the consequences/risks attached to utilising alternatives?
• Have you or are you considering embarking on an international recruitment campaign?

Please return your responses to recruitmentandretention@nhsemployers.org by Monday 12 January 2009.

New shortage occupation list launched

The UK Border Agency has published a new national shortage occupation list to accompany the launch of Tier 2 of the points-based system on 27 November 2008.

If a job is on the shortage occupation list, it means there are not enough resident workers to fill the available jobs in that particular sector. Migrants who come to the UK to fill a skilled job in Tier 2 on the shortage occupation list will get enough points without proving their prospective earnings or qualifications.

Will this affect my ability to recruit from overseas?

Removal of a particular occupation from the list does not mean that a Tier 2 application will not be granted for any vacancy that exists. Providing the employer can demonstrate that the post has been advertised and there were no suitable applicants from the resident labour market, an individual from overseas may be selected and appointed providing they meet all the eligibility criteria for Tier 2.

The job vacancy must have been advertised to settled workers. If the salary for the job is £40,000 or under, you must advertise it for a minimum of two weeks. If the vacancy is over £40,000, you must advertise it for a minimum of one week.

Job adverts can be placed for free on NHS Jobs.