Jobs 'to be promoted in UK first'

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Employers will be forced to publicise skilled job vacancies on the Jobcentre Plus network before advertising them abroad, the Home Office has said.

This follows concerns that some firms are effectively hiding jobs from UK workers such as builders and nurses by promoting them only in trade magazines.

Home Secretary Jacqui Smith said the greater exposure would give UK workers the "first crack of the whip".

But the Tories said this was pointless without an annual cap on immigration.

The group affected by the government's change will be "tier two'' immigrants, who include primary school teachers, some categories of nurses, hotel managers and construction workers.

Employers currently have to advertise a job nationally for two weeks before looking for workers from overseas.

Skill levels

The time limit drops to one week where a salary of more than £40,000 is on offer.

However, trade unions have complained that the rule is widely ignored because firms find it cheaper or easier to take on staff from overseas.

The Home Office move comes at a time when the government is attempting to curb unemployment.

Figures due on Wednesday are expected to show a big rise in the number of jobless from 1.86 million recorded in October.

But the Conservatives say tightening the rules would not be effective without an annual cap on the number of non-EU migrants to the UK.

Prime Minister Gordon Brown received much criticism when he promised "British jobs for British workers" in 2007.

Opponents argue that European law prevents employers from favouring one EU worker over another on grounds of nationality.

However, Mr Brown's supporters say the prime minister's comments referred to the need to improve the skill levels of British workers, enabling them to compete with people from overseas.