UK Shortage Occupation List: 2025 News

What was the UK Shortage Occupation List

The UK Shortage Occupation List (SOL) was a government-maintained list of jobs without enough UK workers to meet demand. Jobs on this list had more relaxed eligibility requirements for work visas, making it easier for UK employers to hire skilled workers from overseas to fill these positions.

Some key features of the SOL:

• Employers could hire foreign workers for these roles without first having to prove they couldn't find suitable UK candidates.
• The visa application fees were lower for shortage occupations.
• The minimum salary threshold was typically lower for roles on the list.
• Workers in these occupations needed fewer points under the points-based immigration system.

Common occupations that were frequently on the list included:

• Healthcare workers (including doctors in certain specialities, nurses)
• Engineers in various fields
• IT professionals
• Scientists and researchers
• Architects
• Visual effects artists and animators

Why We Had a Shortage List

The UK created the Shortage Occupation List to track jobs for which we didn't have enough skilled UK workers. Think of it as a master list of jobs for which we needed help from overseas workers.

How It Worked

When a job was on this list, employers could hire foreign workers more efficiently by:

• Paying them at least £20,960 per year
• Ensuring the hourly rate was at least £10.75
• Paying at least 80% of the typical UK salary for that job

Who Managed It

This list was kept up to date by the Migration Advisory Committee. The MAC is an independent group of experts who monitor the job market and tell the government which jobs require overseas workers.

The pay rules were more straightforward for jobs that were short-staffed than for other roles that needed foreign workers. This made hiring people with the skills we needed faster and cheaper.

Key Occupations on the UK Shortage Occupation List (Pre-2024 Abolition)

The Skilled Worker visa has been the main route for overseas professionals moving to the UK for work. The Shortage Occupation List identified roles affected by a shortage of workers in the UK labour market. Jobs on this list benefited from lower salary thresholds, allowing applicants to be paid 80% of the going rate for their occupation.

The SOL comprised two categories which faced skill shortages before the SOL was abolished in April 2024:

1. General Shortage Occupations (80% Salary Threshold)

These roles spanned multiple sectors:

• Healthcare & Social Care: Health managers, care workers, senior care workers, veterinarians.
• Science & Engineering: Chemical (only in the nuclear industry), biological and physical scientists (in construction engineering or the oil and gas industry); civil, mechanical, electrical, software engineers, and engineering professionals not elsewhere classified.
• Technology & IT: IT analysts, software developers, web designers, cyber security specialists, bio-informaticians.
• Construction & Skilled Trades: Bricklayers, roofers, carpenters, plasterers, welders, and general construction trades.
• Arts & Creative Industries: Artists, ballet/contemporary dancers, skilled orchestral musicians, graphic designers, and skilled classical ballet dancers.
• Other Professions: Actuaries, architects, archaeologists, lab technicians, fishing industry roles.

2. Health & Education Shortage Occupations (National Pay Scales Applied)

These roles were subject to national pay scales rather than the 80% salary threshold:

• Healthcare: Medical practitioners, psychologists, pharmacists, radiographers, physiotherapists, occupational therapists, speech and language therapists, nurses, paramedics, social workers, and nursing auxiliaries.
• Education: Secondary school teachers (maths, physics, science, computer science, modern foreign languages, Gaelic); primary and nursery Gaelic-medium teachers (Scotland only).

Hiring via the Shortage Occupation List

Under the Shortage Occupation List, a UK employer with a sponsorship licence could hire overseas workers on a Skilled Worker visa more efficiently, benefiting from a 20% salary discount on the general salary threshold.

To do so, they had to meet the eligibility requirements, ensuring the job role specified the Standard Occupational Classification Code from the approved list. The employer would then issue a Certificate of Sponsorship, allowing the worker to apply for a Skilled Worker visa.

However, with the transition to the Immigration Salary List in April 2024, a few occupation codes were removed. While eligible Skilled Worker occupation codes on the ISL can still receive a 20% discount on the general salary threshold, they are now required to meet the higher salary threshold of £30,960. However, occupations covered by the Health & Care Worker visa still qualify for the lower threshold of £23,200.

The End of the Shortage Occupation List

In December 2023, the UK government announced it would end the Shortage Occupation List as part of broader immigration reforms aimed at reducing net migration. The UK government had asked the Migration Advisory Committee to rapidly review the Immigration Salary List. In its report, the MAC raised concerns that the SOL was being used too broadly and recommended its removal. Key issues highlighted included:

• The 20% salary discount for shortage occupations risked undercutting UK workers and enabling migrant exploitation.
  • The MAC raised concerns that the discount allowed employers to pay below the 25th percentile, potentially distorting wages and conditions. However, with salary thresholds now set at the 50th percentile, the rationale for prohibiting salaries below this level is weaker.
• The Shortage Occupation List was increasingly ineffective in addressing genuine skill shortages.
  • The MAC previously recommended abolishing or heavily reforming the SOL, as its impact had diminished due to policy changes. They noted that its role within the immigration system needs more precise government direction.
• Salary thresholds and exemptions have widened the gap between public and private sector pay, potentially reinforcing low wages in some industries.
  • The MAC highlighted that higher salary thresholds mainly impact private sector employers, while publicly funded roles (e.g., healthcare and social care) are exempt. This creates a growing divide and risks worsening conditions in lower-paid occupations.

The government gave several reasons for scrapping the SOL:

• Cutting overall migration numbers
• Encouraging employers to hire and train UK workers
• Preventing misuse of the SOL system
• Simplifying the immigration process

The change took effect in April 2024, replacing the SOL with the Immigration Salary List. Under the new system, foreign workers must meet higher salary thresholds, except those in health and social care roles. The changes aimed to ensure that foreign workers receive salaries closer to market rates, thus preventing exploitation and guaranteeing fair wages for all employees.

Summary of Changes

The Shortage Occupation List (SOL) played a key role in the Skilled Worker visa system by identifying roles with labour shortages and allowing UK employers with a sponsorship licence to hire overseas workers more efficiently. The SOL provides benefits such as salary discounts and reduced visa fees, creating a streamlined process for businesses to sponsor skilled foreign talent in crucial sectors.

However, as of 4 April 2024, the UK government replaced the SOL with the Immigration Salary List (ISL), shifting the focus from specific occupations to salary thresholds as the primary eligibility criterion. While the ISL acknowledges labour shortages, it removes specific eligible jobs and introduces higher general salary thresholds, particularly for non-healthcare roles. This change aims to ensure that migration remains a targeted response to skill gaps, but it also places a more significant financial burden on employers looking to sponsor overseas talent. As businesses adapt to these new rules, understanding the eligibility requirements, SOC codes, and salary thresholds will be crucial for navigating the updated Skilled Worker visa system.