Meeting the Needs of the UK Economy through Selective High-Skilled

The first review by the Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) of the highly skilled migration routes (Tier 1) of the Government's Points Based System for managed migration recommends that the routes should be maintained. In the best interests of the UK economy and labour market, the MAC has produced a package of recommendations on key areas of Tier 1.

These recommendations aim to maintain well designed immigration routes to attract the "brightest and best" to come to the UK to work in the top 10 per cent of graduate jobs. In particular, the MAC recommends that:

• People with an undergraduate degree as their highest qualification should be allowed in under Tier 1 General route, subject to high previous earnings
• The points available under the Tier 1 General route are updated to ensure that only the most highly skilled immigrants are admitted through this route
• The initial leave to remain entitlement under the Tier 1 General route is reduced from three to two years, with a three year extension subject to evidence that the individual is in highly skilled employment.

Chair of the Migration Advisory Committee, Professor David Metcalf, said: "The highly skilled route of the Points Based System is very important to the UK economy. Therefore, it should be maintained and improved in order to ensure that the UK continues to attract the brightest and best. We are clear that Tier 1 migrants must not displace or undercut UK workers. Immigration should not serve as a disincentive to employers to invest in training to improve the skills of workers in Britain."

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