The Shortage Occupation List: A "Not-So-Short" List?

The UK’s new Points-Based Immigration System will be fully operational from 1 January 2021 – this new system will apply to EU and non-EU migrants equally. One of the requirements will be a job offer carrying an annual salary of at least £25,600, with the possibility of ‘trading’ points to reduce this salary to a minimum of £20,480. One way of accessing this reduced salary threshold will be to show that the relevant role is on the Shortage Occupation List. 

With this in mind, it is of great importance that the number of roles on the Shortage Occupation List looks set to increase – the Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) has just recommended that 70 new job types be added to the UK-wide list and/or the list for Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. This would allow UK employers to sponsor a migrant worker with a salary 20% lower than would normally be allowed, provided they will fill a role on the new list. 

Given the almost inevitable skills shortage which will be caused by the loss of European free movement into the UK, the suggested additions to the Shortage Occupation List would provide some welcome reprieve from the additional regulatory and financial burden that UK employers must bear in order to continue hiring EU workers come 1 January 2021.

Of course, it remains to be seen whether the Home Office will implement the MAC’s recommendations in full – watch this space!

If you need advice on the upcoming changes to the UK’s immigration regime, please get in touch – we would love to help.