The list of jobs open to immigrants from outside the EU has been published.
Ministers accepted the recommendations of an expert panel about which jobs there were not enough British workers to fill.
Social workers, which were not recommended by the Migration Advisory Committee (MAC), were added to the list by ministers.
The shortage occupation list includes civil and chemical engineers, some construction managers, geologists, and senior nurses.
The Home Office said there was some evidence about social workers the MAC had not examined and social worker posts were being added to the list as a precaution.
Skilled chefs and senior care workers, new additions to the list, are to be reviewed.
Maths and science teachers are on the list but the MAC will re-examine the evidence for all teaching jobs by March next year.
Town planners, which are not on the list, will also be kept under review.
Immigration minister Phil Woolas said the new list meant there would be 200,000 fewer jobs available to migrants.
Ian Johnston, chief executive of the British Association of Social Workers welcomed the decision. He said 12% of social worker posts were unfilled across the country. "I think the decision reflects the fact that it remains relatively difficult to recruit social workers especially for jobs working with children and families."
