Immigration rules needs to be tightened up so that highly skilled non-EU migrant workers do not find themselves in menial roles, according to David Leyshon, managing director at technical recruiter CBSbutler.

Leyshon’s comments follow Home Office research which shows that 30% of non-EU highly skilled workers that arrived on Tier 1 visas have ended up in menial roles such as shop assistants, security guards and supermarket cashiers.

Leyshon told Recruiter: “The individuals were brought in for specific sectors, over the last 18 months in IT and construction. There was also a significant demand for overseas IT workers but that demand has now reduced. Individuals that were brought here on Tier 1 visas have then found there was no work for them due to the recession.

“When they enter the UK, they should come here to take up a specific role. The landscape has changed and they have found themselves doing menial roles. There needs to be specific jobs waiting for them in line with Tier 1 guidelines.

“It would be simplistic to say the workers should be expelled from the country. There needs to be a process where there is a readjustment so the visa can be justified at a lower level. They could then stay on the premise that they would enter the higher skilled roles when the demand returns. There would need to be a set period on this of about six months.”