UK lists preferred occupations for immigrants

The Home Office has confirmed the list of preferred jobs for would-be immigrants to the UK - and non-EU techies need not apply.

The points-based immigration system starts at the end of the month. If people from outside the EU wish to work in the UK then having qualifications for one of the listed occupations will increase their chances of being allowed in.

There are no IT jobs listed as having shortages. But there are shortages of civil engineers, physicists, geologists and meteorologists as well as biochemists, pharmacists and radiographers.

Strangely Scotland needs speech and language therapists at all levels. Skilled ballet dancers are also welcome to apply for work permits as are ship and hovercraft officers.

All types of social worker are needed. As are skilled work riders - the people who train and exercise racehorses.

Oddly, given the supposed state of the building industry, there are shortages of managers in construction and quantity surveyors.

The only teachers the UK is short of are secondary school maths and science teachers.

We also need skilled sheep shearers - with British Wool Marketing Board bronze medal (or equivalent) of course.

As part of the reforms companies are expected to try and fill vacancies with UK citizens before looking abroad - for jobs on the list companies do not have to prove this.

You can download the complete list from here.®