“ WHERE BUSINESSES HAVE TRIED EVERYTHING POSSIBLE TO RECRUIT PEOPLE LOCALLY, A FLEXIBLE AND AFFORDABLE IMMIGRATION SYSTEM MUST BE THERE TO SUPPORT THEM. THE SHORTAGE OCCUPATION LIST DOES NOT REFLECT THE REALITY BUSINESSES EXPERIENCE ON THE GROUND.”
JANE GRATTON, DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC POLICY, THE BRITISH CHAMBERS OF COMMERCE
the gap by investing in training to upskill workers and six in ten were investing in technology and automation to improve productivity, 59% supported making all skill levels permanently eligible for inclusion on the SOL. Jamie Cater, senior policy manager at the
manufacturers’ organisation Make UK, said the MAC recommendations would “concern many manufacturers” who were experiencing increasing shortages of critical skills. “While manufacturers do not believe that recruiting skilled workers from overseas is the long-term solution to these shortages, it is an important way to address urgent demand for skilled workers and the current system is hindering their ability to recruit. “The inclusion of occupations on the SOL can be
an effective way to ease some of those challenges. It is vital that the MAC is able to review the SOL more regularly going forward, and that this is used to inform the development of a wider skills policy.”
Although the number of vacancies in the UK
workforce has dropped from last year’s record of more than 1.4 million, the figure is still close to a million. Jane Gratton, deputy director of public policy at the British Chambers of Commerce, says the scale of the recruitment crisis remains “huge”. She added: “Employers are offering more flexible
working wherever possible but are still struggling to hire and retain the right staff to help get them through these challenging economic times. The picture in the hospitality and manufacturing sectors is particularly worrying. We have just under a million job vacancies in the economy, and skills shortages are damaging businesses’ ability to operate profitably – as well as impacting the wellbeing and morale of remaining staff. “Businesses and the government need to work together
to resolve this problem. Bringing more people back into the workforce, with rapid retraining programmes and comprehensive support, will help. While many employers remain sharply focused on investment in training, most businesses need more help to get the workforce skills they need. Positive interventions in the tax and skills system would be welcome to boost investment in workplace training and development. “And where businesses have tried everything possible
to recruit people locally, a flexible and affordable immigration system must be there to support them. The Shortage Occupation List does not reflect the reality businesses experience on the ground. The Migration Advisory Committee underlined concerns that the list is not an effective tool to address labour shortages. An alternative must be developed urgently and in consultation with business. Our economic forecasts suggest the coming couple of years are going to be tough for everyone. Solving the recruitment crisis will be key to getting the economy growing.”
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