The Shortage of Occupation List UK: What is The Immigration Salary List in 2024?

In 2024, despite significant progress in overcoming the labour shortage, the UK is still struggling with it in some industries. Attracting overseas workers remains one effective method to deal with this issue. To make it easier for foreign specialists to find job roles in high demand across the UK, the government introduced the Shortage Occupation List (SOL). In our article, we explain what the SOL is, what changes have been adapted to it in 2024, and what perspectives it provides to potential immigrants.

Understanding the UK Shortage Occupation List

Being one of the largest economies in the world and providing high-quality education opportunities, the UK has always been a desirable destination for skilled workers. Even though the situation with the labour shortage has been improving lately (9.7% in October 2023 compared to 14.9% in October 2022), there are still considerable gaps across various UK sectors. Usually, the UK immigration policy is certainly no gift. The UK Shortage Occupation List is designed to facilitate this procedure for both British employers and foreign employees. Among the benefits it provides are:

Employers can fill vacancies more quickly and efficiently due to a more streamlined recruitment process and access to the required talent pool.

• Lower visa application fees reduce the financial burden for employers;
• A lower salary threshold makes it more attainable for foreign workers to meet visa requirements;
• A simplified visa application process makes it easier for foreign workers to obtain the necessary permits to work in the UK;
• The Immigration Health Surcharge may not be required in some cases;
• The list guides skilled workers directly towards occupations with a high likelihood of job security and career growth in the UK.

How the SOL is Different from Other Occupation Lists

Besides the Shortage of Occupation List, there is also the Skilled Worker Occupation List (SWOL) and the Healthcare and Education Shortage Occupation List (HESOL). What is common for all three lists is that they are all managed by the UK government and offer various benefits to facilitate the hiring and immigration process for critical roles, including lower application fees and reduced salary thresholds. However, in other aspects, they are different. Here are some tips on how not to confuse them and choose the option that suits you the best:

• The Shortage Occupation List and the Health and Education Shortage Occupation List facilitate the immigration of workers in high-demand roles in specific fields (IT, engineering, healthcare, education, and others).
• The Skilled Workers Occupation List helps to define eligibility for the Skilled Worker visa and provides a broader framework for skilled immigration.

How the Shortage Occupation List Works

To appear in the Shortage Occupation list, a job must meet the following requirements: an annual salary of at least £20,960 per year, a minimum of £10.75 per hour, or 80% of the going rate (the minimum salary considered appropriate for a specific role). When a job appears on the list, it is assigned a “SOC” code. This code is the key element in the worker’s visa application: using the wrong SOC code may result in significant delays or even refusal.

The Shortage Occupation List UK: 2024 Updates

In April 2024, the Shortage Occupation List was replaced with The Immigration Salary List (ISL). There are some changes in the terms and conditions as well:

1. The number of occupations has decreased from 53 to 23.
2. The minimum salary threshold has been increased. The general salary threshold for skilled workers is currently £38,700. However, if the occupation is eligible for the Skilled Worker visa and is on the Immigration Salary List, the threshold is lowered to £30,920.
3. The Immigration Health Surcharge has been increased from £624 to £1,035 per year, and from £470 to £776 per year for students and juvenile applicants.

Are These Changes Positive?

Well, it depends on the way you look at it. On the one hand, the minimum salary threshold has been increased. On the other hand, numerous occupations have been eliminated from the list. With the costs of sourcing required workers getting less affordable to businesses (primarily rural businesses as they experience an imbalance between the labour demand and supply), it will make more sense for employers to look for workers in the domestic labour market instead of hiring talent from abroad. This could potentially limit the opportunities for skilled workers from overseas.

Why Did Such a Significant Reduction Take Place?

The significant reduction in the Shortage Occupation List is not a cause for concern. Rather, it reflects the UK government’s commitment to ensuring that UK employers benefit from these measures without putting any pressure on wages or disadvantaging domestic workers. The decisions regarding occupations on future lists will be based on their genuine benefits to employers, providing skilled workers with a clear understanding of the government’s intentions.

Another reason for that might be that the level of immigration to the UK has reached a critical level. According to the Office for National Statistics, a net migration of 672,000 added to the population in 2023. However, considering the UK’s exit from the EU in 2021, most of them turned out to be non-EU nationals. Since such an increase has put severe pressure on the country’s infrastructure, housing, and the National healthcare system, further restrictions on skilled workers entering the UK, including a reduced Immigration Salary List, are inevitable.

UK Immigration Salary List 2024: Job Types

Creative jobs across the UK on the ISL

• 2142 All jobs in graphic and multimedia design
• 3411 All art jobs
• 3414 Skilled classical ballet dancers or skilled contemporary dancers who meet all the criteria required by internationally recognised UK ballet or contemporary dance companies.
• 3415 Only skilled orchestral musicians who meet all the criteria required by internationally recognised UK orchestras.
• 3416 Arts officers, producers, and directors: all jobs.
• Scientific jobs across the UK:
• 2112 All jobs in biological science and biochemistry
• 2115 Social and humanities sciences: only archaeologists
• 3111 Laboratory technicians roles that require 3 or more years of on-the-job experience gained legally
• 3212 Pharmaceutical technicians: all jobs.

Jobs in Agriculture across the UK:

• 5119 Agriculture and fishing trades: only jobs in the fishing industry
• 9119 Elementary agriculture occupations: only deckhands on fishing vessels of 9 metres and above and only jobs requiring at least 3 years of full-time on-the-job experience gained legally.

Jobs in Care across the UK:

• 6135 All jobs in care. The sponsor must hold registration with the Care Quality Commission. Jobs sponsored by private households or individuals aren’t included.
• 6136 Senior care workers – all jobs. The sponsor must hold registration with the Care Quality Commission.
• 6129 Animal care: only racing grooms, stallion handlers, stud grooms, stud hands, stud handlers and work riders.

Trade jobs across the UK:

• 5213 Welding trades: only high integrity pipe welder roles that require at least 3 years of full-time experience gained legally
• 5312 All jobs in stonemasonry and related trades
• 5313 All jobs in bricklaying
• 5314 All jobs in roof construction
• 5316 All jobs in carpentry
• 5319 Construction and building trades: only retrofitters

Jobs only in Scotland (ISL):

• 5235 All jobs in boat and shipbuilding
• 1212 Fishing boat masters
• 2111 The nuclear industry jobs

The Step-by-step Guide to Seeking Employment as a Foreigner in the UK

If you are interested in exploring your professional opportunities in the UK labour market, This is how you do it:

1. Go to the GOV.UK official website and identify the occupation code (SOC) in the Appendix Skilled Occupations.
2. Check the relevant salary threshold. Currently, it is £38,700.
3. Verify your occupation’s eligibility on the Immigration Salary List. If you find it there, the threshold reduces to £30,960 due to the 20% discount.
4. Apply for the job to obtain the Certificate of Sponsorship.
5. Submit the visa application using the correct SOC code and employer and salary details.
6. Wait for the approval and further instructions.

What if Your Occupation is not on the Immigration Salary List

Suppose your occupation isn’t on the UK Immigration Salary List (ISL). In that case, you can still qualify for job sponsorship under the Skilled Worker Occupation List or the Health and Education Occupation List. Currently, there are over 200 occupations on the Skilled Worker Occupation List. The full list can be found on the GOV.UK official website.

The Updated Health Occupation List 2024

Here is the updated job list for those who seek opportunities in the healthcare sector:

• 2211 Generalist medical practitioners, including doctors, general practitioners, physicians, and others
• 2212 Specialist medical practitioners, including anaesthetists, medical acupuncturist, radiologists, surgeons, and others
• 2221 Physiotherapists, including electro-therapists, physiotherapists, and physiotherapy practitioners
• 2222 Occupational therapists, including community occupational therapists and paediatric occupational therapists
• 2223 Speech and language therapists
• 2224 Psychotherapists and cognitive behaviour therapists, including cognitive behavioural therapists and psycho-analysts
• 2225 Clinical psychologists
• 2226 Other psychologists, including educational psychologists, forensic psychologists, and psychometrists
• 2229 Therapy professionals not elsewhere classified, including art therapists, family therapists, and nutritionists
• 2231 Midwifery nurses, including delivery suite managers, and midwifery managers
• 2232 Registered community nurses, including community care nurses, district nurses, and health visitors
• 2233 Registered specialist nurses, including intensive care nurses and clinical nurse specialists
• 2234 Registered nurse practitioners, including health care practitioners and mental health practitioners
• 2235 Registered mental health nurses, including psychiatric nurses
• 2236 Registered children’s nurses, including neonatal nurses, paediatric nurses, and school nurses
• 2237 Other registered nursing professionals
• 2251 Pharmacists Chemist (pharmaceutical), including dispensary managers and pharmaceutical chemists
• 2252 Optometrists, including ophthalmic opticians and opticians
• 2253 Dental practitioners, including dental surgeons and periodontists
• 2254 Medical radiographers, including medical photographers, nuclear medicine practitioners, and vascular technologists
• 2255 Paramedics, including ambulance paramedics, emergency care practitioners, and paramedics-ECP
• 2256 Podiatrists
• 2259 Other health professionals not elsewhere classified, including audiologists, family planners, and occupational health advisers
• 6131 Nursing auxiliaries and assistants
• 6132 Ambulance staff (excluding paramedics), including ambulance care assistants, ambulance drivers, and emergency medical technicians
• 6133 Dental nurses, assistants, and surgery assistants
• 3213 Medical and dental technicians, including cardiographers, dental hygienists, and dental technicians
• 3219 Health associate professionals not elsewhere classified, including diet advisers and health trainers.

The Updated Education Occupation List 2024

• 2312 Further education teaching professionals
• 2313 Secondary education teaching professionals
• 2314 Primary education teaching professionals
• 2315 Nursery education teaching professionals
• 2316 Special and additional needs education teaching professionals
• 2321 Head teachers and principals for primary and secondary school, further education, and university
• 2461 Social workers, including independent review officers, mental health social workers, and social workers
• 3231 Higher level teaching assistants, including advanced teaching assistants and learning support practitioners
• 6112 Teaching assistants
• 6113 Educational support assistants, including non-teaching assistants at schools, special needs assistants, and support assistants in other educational establishments.

Is There an Unskilled UK Shortage Occupation List?

No, there isn’t. The UK immigration system and government primarily focus on attracting skilled workers to fill specific labour market gaps. For this reason, unskilled positions typically do not qualify for worker visa sponsorship. However, the chance is low but never zero. Researching other UK work visa categories may help. Unlike the skilled worker visa route, some don’t require a job offer or sponsorship and, therefore, may apply to your situation.

Sources

1. Statista
2. GOV.UK
3. GOV.UK