The UK Migration Advisory Committee published its review of the shortage occupation list, adding veterinarians, web designers and architects.

Alongside the occupations which have been added to the list, many have been expanded to include all roles within that occupation.

This means the list will now cover approximately 9% of jobs in the labour market, compared to 1% under the previous list.

The committee recommended broadening the list to include all roles in occupations such as medical practitioners, nurses, programmers and software development professionals, recognising the increasing difficulty in filling such roles.

The Migration Advisory Committee also recommends a review of what role the list would play in a future immigration system.

Migration Advisory Co-Chair Professor Alan Manning, commented, “Today’s labour market is very different to the one we reviewed when the last SOL (shortage occupation list) was published in 2013. Unemployment is lower and employers in various industries are facing difficulties in finding skilled people to fill their vacancies. That is why we have recommended expanding the SOL to cover a range of occupations in health, information and engineering fields.”

“However, our recommendations are clearly only applicable under the current immigration system, while EU free movement remains,” Manning said. “We are recommending a full review of the SOL once there is a clearer picture of what the future immigration system will look like.”

Jane Gratton, Head of People Policy at the British Chambers of Commerce, commented, “Expanding the Shortage Occupation List will help businesses access the skills they need when they can’t recruit locally. Listing occupations, rather than job titles, simplifies the system and gives welcome flexibility to those hiring for new or emerging roles.”

Michael Johnson-Ellis, Managing Director at Healthier Recruitment said that simply suggesting that the UK pull more professionals from outside of the EU is unlikely to be effective.