Shortage occupation list

What is UK Shortage Occupation List for Skilled Worker visa 2023

UK Shortage Occupation list (SOL) for Skilled Worker visa is the official record of jobs that according to UK immigration authority, the Home Office, have staff shortages in the UK. In other words, the SOL is the official list of occupations where there is a shortage of suitable skilled local labour in the UK, and where it is sensible to fill those shortages with migrant workers through a skilled work visa.

There is recent information published by the UK Chamber of Commerce about difficulties to find workers in hospitality, manufacturing and engineering sectors and there is a recent article in the Guardian about serious issues caused by staff shortages in the care sector.

The lack of local workers gives opportunity for those foreign nationals who have the required skills to apply for the vacant UK jobs, and obtain the relevant Skilled Worker or Health and Care visa (health and care visa is a sub-category of Skilled Worker visa). These visas allow the visa holders and their families to settle in the UK permanently and ultimately obtain British citizenship.

In later part of this article we give some tips on how to find jobs in the UK. Therefore, if you would like to find out more about the jobs search in the UK, please read the paragraph ‘Where and how to look for jobs in the UK‘, which is towards the end of our article.

What are the Advantages for jobs on Shortage Occupation List

Shortage Occupation List advantage: Jobs listed on the Shortage Occupation have a reduced minimum salary requirement for the Skilled Worker visa and the visa application fees are lower. This way the Home Office supports UK employers to recruit foreign workers for the jobs on the Shortage Occupation List.

As a note for foreign workers looking for employment in the UK, the jobs on the UK Shortage Occupation List are not the only jobs that are in demand in the UK. So if you are skilled in other job and you find employment in the UK with sponsor licence holder organisation, you may still apply for Skilled Worker visa. We write more about this further down.

What are Home Office plans for care workers Soc Code 6145

The latest potential deadline for the Health and Care visa for Soc Code 6145 (care workers and home carers) was 15 February 2023. The Soc Code 6145 remains eligible for the Skilled Worker visa and from the sources available, we reckon it is unlikely to end anytime soon.

We recommend reading our article What next after 15th February 2023 for the health and care visa scheme for more information

Skilled worker: What jobs are on UK Shortage Occupation List 2023?

The full current Shortage Occupation List 2023 can be found on UK government website here. There is a separate Shortage Occupation List for Health and Education jobs which you can find here. Our next heading in this article is dedicated to the Health and Education jobs on Shortage List.

Care workers and social care jobs on UK Shortage Occupation List 2023:

• 6145 – Care workers and home carers – private households or individuals (other than sole traders sponsoring someone to work for their business) cannot sponsor Skilled Worker applicants

• 6146 – Senior care workers – all jobs

• 1242– Residential, day and domiciliary care managers and proprietors – all jobs

• 1181 – Health services and public health managers and directors – all jobs

Welding trades (some jobs) on UK Shortage Occupation List 2023:

• 5215 – Welding trades – only high integrity pipe welders, where the job requires 3 or more years’ related on-the-job experience. This experience must not have been gained through illegal working.

Laboratory technicians on UK Shortage Occupation List 2023:

• 3111 – Laboratory technicians – all jobs

IT and software jobs on UK Shortage Occupation List 2023:

• 2135 – IT business analysts, architects and systems designers – all jobs

• 2136 – Programmers and software development professionals – all jobs

• 2137 – Web design and development professionals – all jobs

• 2139 – Information technology and communications professionals not elsewhere classified – only cyber security specialists

Engineers on UK Shortage Occupation List 2023:

• 2121– Civil engineers – all jobs

• 2122 – Mechanical engineers – all jobs

• 2124 – Electronics engineers – all jobs

• 2126 – Design and development engineers – all jobs

• 2127 – Production and process engineers – all jobs

• 2129 – Engineering professionals not elsewhere classified – all jobs

• 2461 – Quality control and planning engineers – all jobs

Veterinarians on UK Shortage Occupation List 2023:

• 2216 – Veterinarians – all jobs

Architects on UK Shortage Occupation List 2023:

• 2431 – Architects – all jobs

Actuaries, economists and statisticians (only specified jobs) on UK Shortage Occupation List 2023:

• 2425 – Actuaries, economists and statisticians – only bio-informaticians and informaticians

Artists, dancers, musicians, arts officers, producers and directors on UK Shortage Occupation List 2023:

• 3411 – Artists – all jobs

• 3414 – Dancers and choreographers – only skilled classical ballet dancers or skilled contemporary dancers who meet the standard required by internationally recognised UK ballet or contemporary dance companies. The company must be endorsed as being internationally recognised by a UK industry body such as the Arts Councils (of England, Scotland or Wales)

• 3415 – Musicians – only skilled orchestral musicians who are leaders, principals, sub-principals or numbered string positions, and who meet the standard required by internationally recognised UK orchestras.
  The orchestra must a full member of the Association of British Orchestras.

• 3416 – Arts officers, producers and directors – all jobs

Graphic designers on UK Shortage Occupation List 2023:

• 3421 – Graphic designers – all jobs

Scientists on UK Shortage Occupation List 2023:

• 2111– Chemical scientists – only jobs in the nuclear industry – NOTE: 2111 is for SCOTLAND ONLY

• 2112 – Biological scientists and biochemists – all jobs

• 2113 – Physical scientists – only the following jobs in the construction-related ground engineering industry: engineering geologist hydrogeologist, geophysicist

• 2113 – Physical scientists – only the following jobs in the oil and gas industry:
  geophysicist
  geoscientist
  geologist
  geochemist
  technical services manager in the decommissioning and waste areas of the nuclear industry
  senior resource geologist and staff geologist in the mining sector

• 2114 – Social and humanities scientists – only archaeologists

Skilled Worker visa: What jobs are on the UK Shortage occupation List for Healthcare and Education in 2023?

Those who intend to work in the UK on Skilled Worker visa, need to be aware that there is a separate Shortage Occupation List for Health and Education jobs which you can find here. We list those jobs below.

Healthcare jobs on Shortage Occupation List 2023:

• 2211 – Medical practitioners – all jobs

• 2212 – Psychologists – all jobs

• 2213 – Pharmacists – all jobs

• 2217 – Medical radiographers – all jobs (including radiotherapy practitioners / technologists)

• 2219 – Health professionals not elsewhere classified – all jobs

• 2221 – Physiotherapists – all jobs

• 2222 – Occupational therapists – all jobs

• 2223 – Speech and language therapists – all jobs

• 2231 – Nurses – all jobs

• 3213 – Paramedics – all jobs

• 6141 – Nursing auxiliaries and assistants – all jobs

Education (teaching jobs) on Shortage Occupation List 2023:

• 2314 – Secondary education teaching professionals – only teachers in maths, physics, science (where an element of physics will be taught), computer science and modern foreign languages

• 2314 – Secondary education teaching professionals – only teachers in Gaelic

• 2315 – Primary and nursery education teaching professionals – only Gaelic medium teachers

• 2442 – Social workers – all jobs

UK Shortage occupation List 2023 is currently under review

On 23^rd February 2023 Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) announced ‘Shortage Occupation List (SOL): call for evidence 2023’ to receive feedback in relation to Shortage Occupation list jobs.

The Government periodically commissions the Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) to recommend which jobs should be placed on the SOL. The MAC considers the data and qualitative evidence from stakeholders and compiles a list for the SOL. However, as the SOL forms part of the Immigration Rules, ultimately it is for the UK government to decide which occupations are selected.

MAC want to hear views from organisations’ and businesses on what they think about the shortage occupation roles that are being filled by migrant workers, the salaries they are paid and implications of potential changes to Shortage List. The responses from organisations should be submitted before the closing date of 26 May 2023. Following receipt of the evidence, MAC will conduct their full review and present its recommendations to the Home Office as to what jobs should be on Shortage Occupation List.

UK Spring 2023 budget on immigration

In the most recent UK Budget published on 15th March 2023 UK government assures businesses that government is supporting business to tackle labour shortages and improving business mobility by:

• Accepting the recommendations of the independent Migration Advisory Committee: we are adding five construction occupations to the Shortage Occupation List following their rapid review of the SOL for the construction and hospitality sectors. This will take effect later this summer ahead of the MAC’s wider review of the SOL reporting in the autumn.
• Simplifying and expanding the UK’s business visit visa offer: we are expanding the range of short-term business activities that can be carried out for periods of up to 6 months and reviewing permitted paid engagements from Autumn 2023. We will also consider further enhanced provisions linked to trade negotiations.

MAC recommendation to add 5 construction jobs to Shortage Occupation List

In the meantime, when the full review of Shortage Occupation List is pending, Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) published their interim recommendation to include 5 construction job categories to the Shortage Occupation List. Those are the below listed jobs. For more details on the interim MAC report please read our blog

5312	Bricklayers and masons	Recommend for addition to the SOL
5313	Roofers, roof tilers and slaters	Recommend for addition to the SOL
5315	Carpenters and joiners	Recommend for addition to the SOL
5319	Construction and building trades n.e.c.	Recommend for addition to the SOL
5321	Plasterers	Recommend for addition to the SOL and recommend that ‘Dryliners’ but not ‘Ceiling fixers’ are moved to this SOC code

NO Hospitality jobs recommended for Shortage Occupation List

For the few hospitality sector occupations, in their interim review MAC do not feel that they have sufficiently clear evidence that these specific occupations are in shortage, or, that a lower salary threshold would be sensible. As a result, MAC do NOT recommend the addition of any occupations in the hospitality sector to the Shortage Occupation List.

None of the below listed hospitality jobs are currently recommended by MAC for the Shortage Occupation list:

• 1221 (Hotel and accommodation managers and proprietors)
• 1223 (Restaurant and catering establishment managers and proprietors)
• 5434 (Chefs)
• 5436 (Catering and bar manager)
• 9273 (Waiters and waitresses)

In their interim review MAC stated that they recognise that the hospitality sector was given a very short timescale to provide evidence. Therefore, depending on the further evidence received, MAC may still recommend some hospitality jobs for the SOL when they publish their final review.

Fishing jobs to be added to Shortage Occupation List from summer 2023

From the summer, share fishermen, trawler skippers and experienced deckhands on large fishing vessels will benefit from lower fees and salary requirements. You may want to read our other article for more details.

Inclusion on the Short Occupation List means jobs qualify at a 20% lower salary threshold (£20,960 instead of £26,200). Applicants also pay lower fees (£479 for a 3-year visa instead of £625). The broader English language requirements of the Skilled Worker route also apply on the SOL.

The list of fishing jobs that are due to be included in the Shortage Occupation List:

• share fishermen;
• trawler skippers; and
• experienced deckhands on large fishing vessels.

Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) Reports – Shortage Occupation List

Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) is an independent public body that advises the government on migration issues. MAC is an advisory non-departmental public body, sponsored by the Home Office.

Recently, in mid December 2022, MAC published its Annual Report 13th December 2022. MAC has also been commissioned by the UK government in September 2022 to review Shortage Occupation List.

In April 2022 MAC completed its enquiry Report into the impact of the ending of Freedom of Movement for EU/EEA nationals on the Adult Social Care Sector and submitted the report to Government and Parliament. In the Report, MAC recommended that care workers continue to be eligible to apply for a Health and Care Worker visa, and also made some additional recommendations for changes to the immigration system to ease the burden on social care employers and migrants.

We recommend reading our article What next after 15th February 2023 for the health and care visa scheme for more information

MAC’s main recommendation was that a minimum rate of pay should be established for care workers at a premium to the statutory minimum wage where care is being provided with public funds. MAC suggested that this should initially be set at £1 per hour above the National Living Wage but expected a more substantial premium to be needed to properly address the crisis in social care recruitment and retention.

However, the Government have still not responded to the MAC’s report. MAC noted that the local Governments of Scotland and Wales are taking clear action to address low pay in the care sector and are bewildered by the lack of urgency exhibited by the Department of Health and Social Care.

You will need to find a suitably skilled job first, to then apply for a Skilled Worker visa.

How to find a job in the UK – shortage occupation list

Without a suitable job offer from a UK employer holding a sponsor licence, you are unable to apply for a UK work visa. In order to find a UK job, you would need to do an online search to make job applications directly to UK employers OR apply via recruitment agencies websites. Further below we list some examples of recruitment websites but there are many others that you can find by doing internet search. You can also search the public registered of sponsor employers as employers on there hold a sponsor licence and are able to issue work permit that will give you the right to apply for a UK work visa.

When searching for UK jobs, you need to be patient, and also careful, as you need to watch out for any unscrupulous ‘recruitment agents’ who may try to make money out of you. You should note, that it is illegal for job agencies in the UK to charge fees to job seekers for finding them employment. It is an important principle to bear in mind when searching for jobs. Please read the recent article in the UK Guardian newspaper on this topic. ‘Migrant care workers came to help the UK. Now they’re trapped in debt bondage’.

Indeed

Reed

Carehome.co.uk

Where to find out what jobs are on the Shortage Occupation list

If you wonder what jobs are currently in demand in the UK, you may check the UK Shortage Occupation List. The jobs in Shortage Occupation list are published by the Home Office in the Immigration Rules Appendix Shortage Occupation List – Immigration Rules – Guidance – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

What jobs are on UK Shortage Occupation List in 2023

Examples of jobs on the UK Shortage Occupation List 2023:

• Care workers and home carers
• Senior Care Workers
• Veterinarians
• Health sector jobs (e.g. medical practitioners, nurses, psychologists, pharmacists, medical radiographers, physiotherapists, paramedics, social workers, nursing auxiliaries and assistants)
• Secondary teachers (only teachers in maths, physics, science (where an element of physics will be taught), computer science and modern foreign languages)
• Programmers and software development professionals
• Web design and development professionals
• IT systems analysts, architects and systems designers
• Civil engineers
• Mechanical engineers
• Electrical engineers.
• Graphic designers
• Arts officers, producers and directors 

The above list is not complete, and it only gives examples of the type of jobs on the Shortage Occupation List. The full current list can be found here. There is a separate Shortage Occupation List for Health and Education jobs which you can find here

Why is it relevant if the job is on the Shortage List

Jobs on the Shortage Occupation List have a lower minimum salary requirement for Skilled Worker visa. The minimum pay has to be no less than 80% of the going rate for the specific job (each job that qualifies for the Skilled Worker visa has a minimum salary rate assigned to it) and no less than £20,960 per year, whichever of the two is higher. To find out more about different salary levels for a Skilled Worker visa, please visit this page on our website. You will see that there are a number of different scenarios when the minimum salary can be lower than the standard £26,200 per year.

When applying for Skilled Worker sponsor licence it is easier to explain the need to employ a foreign worker if the job is on the Shortage Occupation list.

Those who applied for asylum in the UK normally are unable to work until their claim is granted. However, in certain circumstances asylum applicants whose cases have been pending with the Home Office for over 12 months due to no fault of their own, may be able to obtain a permission to work from the Home Office. We provide more information on this here.

Finally, the Skilled Worker visa application fee for the main applicant and dependent family members is lower when the job is on the Shortage Occupation list.

What do you need to take advantage of the opportunity

To take advantage of the lower salaries for skilled jobs on the Shortage Occupation list, and to employ such workers, the organization should already possess a Skilled Worker sponsor licence Or be prepared to apply for one.

There are numerous reports that foreign nationals searching for shortage occupation jobs in care homes, are being exploited by bogus ‘recruitment agencies’ and middle men. See as an example recent article in The Guardian on this topic. Some of those so called recruiters can charge anything between 3000 and 18000 GBP for their services.

Charging for the work placement is illegal in the UK. No reputable recruitment agency would charge fees, in particular such steep ones, for a work placement. If you are a worker looking for a job in the UK in the shortage occupation type of employment the best way to go about it is to find and apply for the position by yourself. Money you save can be put to better use. For example to translate documents and visa application services.

What to do if you are looking for work

You can check if your prospective employer already has the Skilled Worker sponsor licence by going to Home Office website.

If your prospective employer already has the sponsor licence they will be able to assign you a Certificate of Sponsorship (work permit). If they do not have one, they will need to apply for Skilled Worker sponsor licence first, before they can assign you a Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS). Only when you have a Cos (work permit) from a licenced sponsor employer, you can subsequently apply for a Skilled Worker visa.

Where and how to look for jobs in the UK

There are several websites dedicated to job search in the UK. Please note that Immigration lawyers or solicitors cannot help in finding jobs or look for jobs for the applicants. What we do as immigration lawyers is assisting with visa applications after you already have a job offer from a UK employer.

Your course of action when looking for job should be:

• First you have to visit Home Office webpage and download the list of certified sponsors and search it for care providers
• then you have to visit job search websites, such as for example Indeed or Carehome.co.uk and look through them for companies with sponsor licence (you can use search function) or simply search for care jobs from the 6145 SOC list below
• alternatively, you can directly contact care providers from the sponsor list asking if they are hiring, you can find them and their contact details through internet search
• when you select a suitable job offer, you can then submit your CV, or write to the job advertiser

We, as an immigration law firm, do not act as an employment agency.

More care jobs are now added to the Shortage Occupation List

The Shortage Occupation List is subject to changes and the Home Office may add or remove jobs from the list. Home Office makes their decisions based on the Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) reports. The latest MAC annual report Migration Advisory Committee: annual report, 2021 – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk). Following MAC recommendation, the Home Office is due to add more Care jobs to the Shortage Occupation list. You can read more about this in our blog here Care workers added to Health and Care Visa – Thaxted Legal.

The below listed care jobs are on the UK Shortage Occupation List from 15/02/2022. This addition is temporary for 12 months, and afterwards the Home Office will review it and decide if this arrangement will continue. For at least the next 12 months until mid February 2023, care workers and carers from overseas will be able to apply for Health and care visa and move to the UK together with dependant family members (spouse and children under 18). The Health and Care visa offers a path to settlement (permanent residence) in the UK after 5 years continuous residence on work visa.

6145 Care workers and home carers

• Care assistant • Care worker • Carer • Home care assistant • Home carer • Support worker (nursing home)

If you want to find out more about costs of different Skilled worker visas visit our page with a dedicated visa cost calculator below.

Skilled worker visa gov fees how much it costs

Top tip – shortage occupation are not the only jobs in demand in the UK

There are jobs that are not listed on the Shortage Occupation but are still in high demand in the UK and there are staff shortages. Those are for example jobs in the construction sector (e.g. painters and decorators, plasterers, bricklayers), butchers, or chefs. If you have experience in those professions, and you receive a job offer from an authorised sponsor employer in the UK, you have knowledge of English language to the Level B1, you may obtain a Skilled Worker visa and come to work in the UK.

What if my job is not on shortage occupation list

If your job is not on the current UK Shortage Occupation list it is not the end of your UK work visa hopes. Any jobs that are skilled to NQF Level 3 (approximate equivalent skill level to High School graduate) that are listed as eligible on the Home Office Appendix Skilled Occupations can qualify for the UK work visa. Of course the required minimum salary has to be paid and you would need to have a Certificate of Sponsorship from the sponsor employer.

Skilled Worker visa and Health & Care visa as a way to settle in the UK

You need to reside in the UK for 5 years continuously on a skilled worker visa in order to qualify for Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) Settlement. We provide more details on the Skilled Worker ILR requirements on this page. After you receive your ILR you can then (usually after 1 year) you may apply to Naturalise as British citizen and subsequently obtain British passport.

If you require help with obtaining sponsor licence or skilled worker visa get in touch with us or visit one of our dedicated pages.

How to get a sponsor licence. Health and care visa.

Skilled worker visa.