Changes To Shortage Occupation List ' Some Construction/Building Jobs Added But No Hospitality

• Law Firm: Thaxted Legal
• Subject Matter: Employment and HR, Media, Telecoms, IT, Entertainment, Real Estate and Construction, Immigration, Employee Benefits & Compensation, Construction & Planning, General Immigration, Hotels & Hospitality
• Author: Mrs Kasia Janucik
• Published date: 23 March 2023

SHORTAGE OCCUPATION LIST CURRENTLY UNDER REVIEW

Shortage Occupation List is a hot topic in the UK immigration and attracts significant media and public attention. You can read more information relating to Shortage Occupation List in our other article 'What is Shortage Occupation List for UK visa'

The Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) is an independent, non-statutory, non-time limited, non-departmental public body that advises the government on migration issues. On 23^rd February 2023 MAC announced 'Shortage Occupation List (SOL): call for evidence 2023' to receive feedback in relation to Shortage Occupation list jobs. MAC want to hear organisations' views on the shortage occupation roles that are being filled by migrant workers, the salaries they are paid and implications of potential changes. 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 Home Office in relation to what jobs should be on Shortage Occupation List.

In each SOL review, the MAC assesses which occupations are both in shortage, i.e., where employers find it difficult to secure adequate numbers of workers with the required skills to fill their vacancies, and where they judge that migration is a sensible response to that shortage.

Once an occupation is added to the Shortage Occupation List (SOL), employers recruiting for this occupation are subject to more favourable migration arrangements. Most notably a reduced salary threshold but also the jobs on SOL have slightly lower visa fees, enabling employers to access a wider pool of suitable workers.

It is worth pointing out, that from 12th April 2023 the minimum salary for Shortage Occupation List jobs will increase to no less than '20,960 gross per year and no less than '10.75 gross per hour. You can read all the details about the recent changes to immigration rules in the latest Statement of Changes to Immigration Rules published on 9th March 2023.

MAC INTERIM REVIEW 15 MARCH 2023 - SHORTAGE OCCUPATION LIST IN CONSTRUCTION AND HOSPITALITY

In advance of starting the full Shortage Occupation List (SOL) review, MAC was asked by the Home Secretary on 7 February 2023 to deliver an expedited review of occupations in the construction and hospitality sectors, recommending the addition of eligible occupations to the SOL and RQF 1-2 occupations to the Skilled Worker (SW) route where appropriate.The MAC...