MAC’s new list of graduate level occupations for Tier 2

Last week the UK Border Agency announced a shake-up of the Tier 2 shortage occupations list, with large numbers of jobs being disqualified as the government sets to raise the qualification entry level to NQF 4.

In November, the government announced plans to raise the minimum skill level for jobs under Tier 2 from National Qualifications Framework (NQF) level 3 to graduate level. In December the government asked the MAC to advise on the following two questions:

1. What standard occupational classification (SOC) codes should be considered as graduate level occupations for the purposes of Tier 2 of the points-based system?

2. How should the current shortage occupation lists for the UK and Scotland be revised to remove jobs below graduate level?

The Committee was asked to use NQF level 4 and above as the benchmark for graduate level for this commission.

The Committee’s report detailing recommended NQF level 4 and above occupations for the purposes of Tier 2 was published on 7 February 2011. This answers question 1 above. A report addressing job titles on the shortage occupation list in occupations below graduate level (question 2) will be submitted to the government during February and published shortly afterwards. Source: UK Border Agency.

The long and the short of it is the UK Government are ‘raising the bar’ or entry level for workers who want to come here on a Tier 2 working visa.

See also:

Tier 2 Working visa reforms announced by UK Border Agency

71 shortage occupations to be removed from Tier 2 visas in points-based shake up

Tier 4 Consultation ends as Damian Green promises clampdown on Student Visa abuse

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