Britain slashes skilled work permits as unemployment soars

The UK government said it will cut by 20 percent the number of visas it issues for skilled workers to enter Britain as unemployment gains the most since the end of the last recession.

The government is under pressure to crack down on immigration after record inflows since 2004 as reports indicate the number of people on unemployment benefits rose by approximately 40,000 in October, the highest increase in over two decades.

The UK aims to reduce the inflow of immigrants after taking more than 2,500,000 in the past five years.

The government is also trimming the list of skilled occupations that Britain no longer needs.

Changes are part of the biggest revamp of immigration rules in Britain since the 1950s, when the nation opened its doors to attract low-skilled workers needed to fuel the post-World War II economy.

Employers seeking to hire a migrant worker who is not on the government's list of shortage occupations must show that no suitably qualified settled worker can fill the job by advertising the vacancy before it is filled.