The UK has a hidden range of jobs employers cannot recruit for due to a lack of skills, including wigmaker, canine beautician and knitter.
Analysis by immigration law firm, Migrate UK looked at the government’s Appendix Skilled Worker job list to uncover the most unusual jobs employers are using the points-based immigration system to try to fill.
Other jobs included microwave engineer, meteorologist, food technologist, slaughterman, and ceramicist.
The occupations on the list are subject to more favourable immigration arrangements under the current points-based immigration system, allowing employers to potentially recruit overseas candidates to fulfil critical job vacancies more quickly.
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Jonathan Beech, managing director of Migrate UK said many are unaware of the extreme range and scale of the lack of talent in the UK.
He said: “While of course roles such as nurses and care workers are already known for their persistent shortages, there’s a whole ‘hidden’ range of occupations such as wig makers or slaughtermen, where businesses are in dire need of extra workers to just stay in business, or cope with demand.”
Beech said sponsoring overseas workers can have huge benefits for employers who are struggling to recruit.
He added: “For any employer struggling to recruit, I’d recommend checking if the required job roles are on the extensive list if they haven’t already, as they could potentially benefit from a pool of worldwide talent.
“If a business hasn’t already explored sponsoring overseas workers, whether via skilled worker or other routes, this is also open to exploration. We regularly help organisations who have previously struggled to fulfil positions, meet crucial job requirements through sponsorship.”
If a role employers persistently cannot recruit for is not included in the scheme, Beech said there is an opportunity to report this.
He added: “For any roles not on the current Appendix Skilled Worker list or Shortage Occupation List (SOL), which haven’t been previously represented and are facing severe and unexpected shortages, I’d also advise a business to submit evidence for the next SOL review
“Organisations have until 26 May 2023 to do so under the Government’s Shortage Occupation List call for evidence 2023.”
