The government has announced plans which may make it easier for British jobseekers to secure positions ahead of European workers.
Employers must now advertise skilled job vacancies in the UK before publicising them abroad, under new rules unveiled by home secretary Jacqui Smith.
At the moment, many managers hire 'tier two' immigrants - those coming from outside the European Union - for positions which include primary school teachers, nurses, hotel managers and architects.
However, Ms Smith said that in the future, locally unemployed people should get "first crack of the whip" when it comes to filling vacancies.
Employers are currently required to advertise a job opening in the UK for two weeks before looking abroad.
The Trades Union Congress has previously stated that the government needs to issue a "bold policy response" to help tackle the rising levels of unemployment in the UK.
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