Britain seeks math teachers and ballet dancers

By Tim Castle

LONDON (Reuters Life!) - Britain needs more math teachers, hovercraft officers and ballet dancers, according to a draft list of occupations with a shortage of workers published by a government advisory body on Tuesday.

The full list includes chefs, sheep shearers and jockeys, although all must be "skilled", as well as specialist civil engineers, medical consultants and veterinary surgeons.

It forms part of a new points-based immigration system designed to cut the number of workers coming to Britain from outside the 30-nation European Economic Area (the European Union plus Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway).

The new rules come into force at the end of November and will make it harder to employ skilled workers from outside the EEA in trades not on the shortage list.

Employers wanting to hire staff in unlisted occupations will have to show they cannot recruit similar staff locally.

All workers coming to Britain will also have to demonstrate they can speak English and have enough money -- set at 800 pounds -- to support themselves before their first pay check.

The list was drawn up by the Migration Advisory Committee for the government to consider before the publication of a final list.

Home Office (interior) Minister Tony McNulty said the committee had done a good job and told Sky News he expected the government would probably issue a "remarkably similar" list in five or six weeks' time.