The Home Secretary, Rt Hon Yvette Cooper MP, has formally requested the Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) to conduct a comprehensive review of the IT and Engineering occupational groupings. This step signifies the government’s ongoing commitment to balancing immigration with domestic labour needs, aiming for a fair, sustainable, and skills-driven immigration policy.
The Purpose of the Review
The primary goal of this review is to understand the reliance of the IT and Engineering sectors on international recruitment. Both sectors are among the top ten that heavily rely on international talent. This dependency highlights underlying issues within the UK’s labour market, such as skills shortages and training gaps, which the government aims to address through a more structured and evidence-based approach.
Collaborative Effort for a Coherent Labour Market Strategy
To achieve a coherent strategy, the MAC will collaborate with Skills England, the Industrial Strategy Council, and the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP). They will gather and analyse data to identify significant labour shortages and their causes. The findings will be reported to ministers, who will then work with industry and sector bodies to address identified shortages.
Key Areas of Focus
The review will specifically look into:
- Roles in Shortage: Identifying which roles within IT and Engineering are facing shortages.
- Drivers of Shortages: Examining factors, such as training, pay and working conditions that contribute to these shortages.
- Sector Responses: Assessing how these sectors have adapted to shortages, beyond relying on international recruitment.
- Impact of the Shortage Occupation List: Evaluating the effects of being on the shortage occupation list on these sectors and occupations.
- Policy Levers: Identifying immigration system policies that could incentivise domestic recruitment, including the potential revision of the Immigration Salary List.
Potential Outcomes and Recommendations
The MAC is encouraged to explore a wide range of options, including:
- Differentiated Approaches: Considering regional, occupational and other factors to tailor immigration policies.
- Balancing Risks: Ensuring that policies do not undercut British workers’ wages or overcomplicate the system.
- Collaborative Development: Working closely with the devolved administrations to develop a robust evidence base and ensure comprehensive stakeholder engagement.
Timeline and Reporting
The MAC has been given a nine-month timeframe to complete this review, allowing sufficient time for thorough stakeholder engagement and data analysis. This review marks the beginning of a series of evaluations aimed at understanding and addressing the UK’s reliance on international workers across key sectors.
Stay tuned for further updates as the MAC progresses with this critical review, paving the way for a more resilient and skilled UK labour market.
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