Good news if you've been troubled by the national shortage of ballet dancers. Sorry, make that skilled ballet dancers. And for those of you who have been losing sleep over the lack of sheep shearers, you, too, may rejoice. A bunch of economists has recognised the pressing need to fill these skills gaps and is attempting to sort it. The Migration Advisory Committee today published a shortage occupations list for employers workers from non-EU countries, which will restrict the recruitment of workers from those countries to skilled jobs only.

http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/sitecontent/documents/aboutus/workingwithus/mac/uklist.

Inevitably there are many casualties of the "if you're not on the list, you're not coming in" policy the government looks likely to adopt as part of new migration rules. The list, which was today presented to the Home Office, makes it clear that only skilled care workers are welcome. Just so there is no confusion over what that means, the report handily defines those it wants to attract as having the job title "senior care worker" and the skills to demand at least £8.80 an hour. Or they must be qualified at level 3 of the National Qualifications Framework.

In deciding which occupations should go on the list, the MAC apparently used three tests. They looked at whether the job was skilled, whether there was a shortage, and whether it was sensible. Predictably care home providers will struggle to see how the last of those tests has been satisfied by stipulating that only senior care workers, earning £8.80 are needed.

As we know, many find it impossible to recruit enough care workers and are heavily reliant on non-EU workers in order to provide safe numbers of staff. Most care is paid for by the public purse and there is no chance of a huge increase in funding. Providers are already struggling, especially those providing services such as domiciliary care, as a result of soaring fuel prices.

Surely it is a disturbing development when the government seems keener to attract people who will contribute to elitest art forms than those who will care for our ever-increasing numbers of older people.

Read the complete post at http://www.communitycare.co.uk/blogs/social-work-blog/2008/09/say-hello-to-an-influx-of-shee.html