Changes to the Shortage Occupation List: What You Need To Know

In December 2023, the UK government announced a ‘5 Point Immigration Plan’. A key element of this plan was to replace the Shortage Occupation List with a new Immigration Salary List. This decision was based on advice from the Migration Advisory Committee.

What is the Shortage Occupation List, why is it changing, and what will this mean for people looking to live and work in the UK?

What is the Shortage Occupation List

The Shortage Occupation List is a list of occupations where there is a recognised shortage of skilled labour in the UK. Currently, if an occupation is listed on the Shortage Occupation List it can make it easier for someone from overseas to secure employment in that occupation in the UK.

For instance, if a job is listed on the Shortage Occupation List, the full salary threshold does not need to be met. What this means is that the salary of a job on the list must be equal to or exceed £20,960, £10.75 per hour and 80% of the minimum salary, or ‘going rate’, for a particular occupation.

If a job is listed on the Shortage Occupation List the visa application fee for a Skilled Worker Visa is lower.

Some of the occupations listed include IT Professionals, Social Care Managers, Scientists, and a range of medical and health professions.

Why is the Shortage Occupation List being replaced?

The Shortage Occupation List is being replaced as part of a range of measures suggested by the Migration Advisory Committee (MAC). The MAC has advised that no employer should be able to pay lower than the “going rate” for an occupation regardless of whether it is listed on the Shortage Occupation List. The new Immigration Salary List will retain the lower minimum salary requirement.

The MAC has recommended that the Shortage Occupation List be replaced due to possible abuses of the system by some employers. They have expressed concern that lower-skilled migrants could be exploited by unscrupulous employers whom they are reliant upon to remain in the UK.

The MAC is conducting a review of the occupations currently listed on the Shortage Occupation List and will publish a streamlined list of shortage occupations to be included on the Immigration Salary List.

Immigration advice & support from BS Consulting

At BS Consulting, our experienced team of immigration and settlement consultants can help you negotiate the complexities of the UK immigration system and answer any questions you may have about the Shortage Occupation List.

Contact us today to find out more about our services and how we can help.