Ballet dancers on UK’s most-wanted list
By Andrew Taylor, Employment Correspondent
Published: November 11 2008 13:17 | Last updated: November 12 2008 00:12
Sheep shearers, ballet dancers, maths teachers, geologists, chemical engineers, racehorse exercisers, physicists and biologists have been placed on Britain’s most wanted list under a new immigration points system, the Home Office announced on Tuesday.
The scheme is designed to stem the inflow of low- skilled workers from outside the European Union and give preference to entrepreneurs, financial high-flyers and professionals such as scientists and engineers.
The first stage, for highly skilled workers, was introduced at the end of February. The next stage for tier II levels skills is due to be launched on November 27. Only workers in industries with skill shortages will be allowed in under the rules.
As a result, the number of jobs available to non-EU workers would fall from 1m to just under 800,000, said Phil Woolas, the immigration minister.