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The UK is currently experiencing a shortage of skilled workers. Here’s how you can use this as your opportunity to immigrate to the UK on a work visa.
The current skill shortages in the UK workforce
In the wake of Brexit, the UK went through a serious skilled worker shortage which shrank the pool of easily available EU workers. This problem was exacerbated when the COVID-19 pandemic hit.
UK companies have always looked beyond their borders in order to fill jobs that required skilled workers, and the new immigration system has made this process a bit simpler. This is helpful seeing as there are vacancies spread across most sectors of the economy, with 42,000 in construction, 60,000 in transport, 170,000 in food and accommodation, and 200,000 in care.
The film industry is just one of the many that has been struggling. It finds itself in the interesting position where business is booming, streaming services like Amazon and Netflix have been pouring money into filming studios across Britain, but the lack of qualified crew members is holding up production and costing millions. The answer to this problem is hiring migrant workers with the skills to fulfil these roles.
What is the UK skills shortage list?
The UK shortage occupation list is a detailed list of jobs which the UK government has declared to be in short supply within the resident labour market. These roles are afforded more relaxed eligibility criteria for sponsored work visa applications. For example, under the recently revised points-based system, a job offer for an occupation on the shortage list counts for 20 tradeable points.
Due to the chaos of Brexit and the pandemic, the skills shortage list has grown extensively. Many technical occupations which would not have qualified for the old Tier 2 (General) visa, now qualify for a Skilled Worker visa. For example, occupations such as IT user support technicians, electricians and plumbers. There are far more office jobs that qualify now, such as office managers and sales executives. You will also find estate agents, shopkeepers, ticket inspectors, gardeners, chefs, fitness instructors and teaching assistants on the list.
Health and care careers on the UK skills shortage list
The Home Office has also expanded the shortage occupation list to include more occupations that fall under the healthcare and education category, including:
- Health services and public health managers and directors
- Residential, day and domiciliary care managers and proprietors
- Pharmacists
- Health professionals not elsewhere classified
- Physiotherapists
- Laboratory technicians
- Nursing auxiliaries
- Senior care workers
Healthcare workers may be eligible to apply for the Health and Care Worker visa. This route is the same as the Skilled Worker visa with lower education requirements, lower application fees and holders do not need to pay the annual health surcharge of £624 per year per person……read more
