The Rudd government has cut by more than half the number of prized occupations and professions listed in the skilled migration program.

In a major rationalisation, Immigration Minister Chris Evans will today unveil a new list of just 181 skills, professions and occupations - down from the 400 cited in the old list.

Butter makers, journalists, script editors, fashion designers, intelligence officers, cooks and hairdressers are among those culled. But other, more specialised, professions - such as pharmacists - have also been dumped.

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