A mechanism designed to assist firms in filling urgent positions, the Shortage Occupation List (SOL), is being considered for possible discontinuation by government officials. So, what precisely is this list? How would its removal impact the business environment in the UK, and should you move fast if you plan to use this hiring route? Let’s dive in and find out answers to all these questions.
What is the Shortage Occupation List (SOL)?
There is a shortage of trained or qualified workers in the UK for a number of occupations, including those listed on the shortage occupation list, which currently has 92 positions. Government representatives put the list together based on in-depth research of the UK job market.
Companies are permitted to hire and sponsor foreign workers in these roles under more benevolent conditions than for other roles that are not on the list because there is a shortage of workers for these particular roles. Consequently, there are fewer requirements for qualifying for sponsored work visa applications.
When identifying roles where there is a marked shortage of experienced individuals, the UK Government can use this resource to great use. On the list of presently shortage occupations are a few positions like:
- Doctors, psychologists, pharmacists, medical radiographers, physiotherapists, occupational therapists, all other health professionals;
- nurses, paramedics, nursing assistants
- Teachers (secondary education teaching professionals as well as primary and nursery education teaching professionals)
- Care workers and home carers
- Civil, mechanical, and electrical engineers
- IT business analysts, architects, and systems designers
- Programmers and software development professionals
- Veterinarians
- Graphic designers
- Bricklayers and masons, roofers, roof tilers and slaters, carpenters and joiners, construction and building trades, as well as plasterers, including dry liners
Additional Read: The Departure of More than 500,000 Workers Put the UK Economy in Danger
What has made this Newsworthy?
One non-departmental independent group that provides advice to the government on migration-related matters is the Migrant Advisory Committee (MAC). Removing the shortage occupation list would guarantee that all jobs, including those on the list, pay more than the general minimum income requirement of £26,600.
This was one of the proposals made in the Annual Report Review, which was released in October 2023. The intention behind this is to guarantee that no employee may live off of a wage that is less than this minimum amount. Lists of shortage occupations that qualify for hiring under a skilled worker visa provide firms with a number of benefits.
Employers are able to fill vacancies by hiring foreign workers more rapidly, paying competitive rates, and requiring less money for visa applications thanks to shortage occupations. Utilizing the shortage occupation list, the UK government has also addressed the specific skill requirements of a number of industries, including the building and construction and health and care sectors. Job openings for caretakers, IT specialists, mechanics, and construction traders have been made easier by the shortage of certain occupations.
The MAC study did, however, also draw attention to worries about the possibility of worker exploitation in situations where the Shortage Occupation List allows businesses to pay workers less than the established market rate for certain roles. As a substitute for the Shortage Occupation List, one of their suggestions was to conduct “standalone” examinations of certain industries, such as manufacturing and hospitality, and determine whether “tailored eligibility criteria” ought to be implemented to satisfy labor shortages. A different idea put out in the review is that shortages should be evaluated “cross-departmentally with a wider skills lens” in a manner akin to that of Australia.
As many of their suggestions are mostly adopted by the government, MAC continues to have a significant impact on immigration policy. While the most recent assessment offers some, to put it mildly, “innovative” possibilities, we still expect significant modifications to the Shortage Occupation List’s functionality as well as repercussions for the Skilled Worker Category.
For assistance or queries regarding the possible changes, get in touch with our knowledgeable business immigration team if you are a sponsor currently hiring skilled immigrants in any of the shortage occupations.
We at Dynamic Staffing Services are here to assist you if you require assistance with any area of international immigration. Please get in touch with us if you would like to discuss global immigration and employment chances in the UK.
Also, we have been in the overseas recruitment business since 1977 and can help your business expand with the best talents in the industry. To know more, contact us today at +44-7477196844 or email enquiry@dss-hr.co.uk to learn more about our services and how we can help you.
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