BALI investigates the MAC's Shortage Occupation List

Over the past week, there has been a flurry of government-led consultations, each seeking industry views on issues ranging from the effect of Japanese Knotweed on the built environment to the skills shortages in the UK. Consultations are sent to BALI for comment so that future policy is shaped to meet the needs of the industry.  This week, Owen Baker, BALI's Technical Officer for Policy & Research, focuses on the Shortage Occupation List, published by the Migration Advisory Commission and listed on the UK government's website.

Owen has taken the time to summarise the consultation documents received by BALI to-date and outlined what help we need from members in order to get landscaping more recognised.

Earlier this year the Migration Advisory Commission reviewed a list known as the ‘Shortage Occupation List’ (SOL).  The SOL is a list of job titles/occupations for which there is a shortage of suitable candidates in the UK.  Unemployment in the UK is currently at record low levels, so a short-term solution is to fill empty job roles by sourcing talent from overseas via non-EEA countries. 

In order to encourage overseas candidates to apply for UK-based jobs, special measures are put in place which means the threshold for a working VISA is lower for job titles on the SOL than would normally be required.  Job titles on the SOL are not required to undertake a Resident Labour Market Test (advertising the job in the UK before seeking candidates from overseas) or meet the five-year salary threshold for settlement (this is the minimum the candidate can earn).  The aim of these measures is to make working in the UK a more desirable prospect for non-EEA candidates. 

The list of occupations currently on the list can be viewed using the link below: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/immigration-rules/immigration-rules-appendix-k-shortage-occupation-list    

As you can see, the SOL focusses heavily on engineers, medical staff and, erm, dancers and choreographers!  However, with enough support this list may increase to include other roles – including those in the landscape and horticulture industry.  The only restrictions are as follows:

• Job titles must show demonstrable national shortages that cannot be filled from within the domestic labour market
• Job titles must be skilled to the required level set by the Home Office*
• Job titles must demonstrate that it is sensible to seek to fill vacancies with migrant labour from outside of the EEA

*Currently the skill level for applications via the SOL is a minimum of RQF level 6 – the equivalent to a bachelor’s degree.  However, the Migration Advisory Commission is seeking evidence from any industry which is facing a shortage of applicants and is therefore inviting evidence from occupations and job titles at RDF Level 1 (this is equivalent to GCSE grades G – D).

Whilst BALI are aware of the struggle for skills within the industry (my colleague Stephen Ensell is busy encouraging the next generation through the GoLandscape initiative), I would value up-to-date feedback from members concerning their struggles in securing the staff with the right skills.  I would value any insight from members concerning their struggles to fill job roles, and would particularly value the following information:

• Job roles you are struggling to fill
• The reason why you are struggling to fill the job role

Please could you send in your responses directly to me, at owen.baker@bali.org.uk before 31 December 2018.