The Shortage Occupation List (SOL) refers to a list of skilled worker jobs currently in short supply within the UK labour market. Meaning employers are struggling to find suitable professionals to fulfil existing roles. To fulfil these roles businesses in the UK may consider sponsoring international talent with the necessary skills and experience under the Skilled Worker visa route.
Skill shortages have affected several UK sectors. Predominantly, the Healthcare, Hospitality, Construction, and IT industries have experienced difficulties fulfilling growing vacancy rates. This article will provide a full list of jobs eligible for sponsorship on the Shortage Occupation List, as well as inform readers about the salary thresholds for these positions, and much more.
What is a Occupation code?
The Home Office uses The Office for National Statistics (ONS) classification of occupational groups, and each group has its own, unique occupation code, a four-digit number, under which you can find the list of roles, duties / responsibilities, and minimum skill level requirements. You can use ONS Occupation Coding Tool to find an appropriate code for the job.
In order to understand if the job you are recruiting/applying for is on the Shortage Occupation List, please use the Home Office website.
What jobs and salaries are on the Shortage Occupation List?
The UK Shortage Occupation List 2023 consists of various shortage positions across several sectors. The Home Office SOL shows where the skill shortage is most prevalent within England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland.
The calculation of the salary threshold for the occupation codes on the Shortage Occupation List might be tricky, let’s unpack!
The offered salary must be equal to or exceeds all of:
- the general salary threshold – £20,960 per year
- 80% of the applicable going rate for the occupation; and
- the minimum hourly rate (at least £10.75 per hour)
All occupational codes on the Shortage Occupation List are given ‘discount’ on the salary thresholds, and only 80% of the going rate is applicable in comparison to the general threshold and the minimum hourly rate, which we calculated below.
Health and Social Care Related Position
For the occupation code 6146 ‘Senior care workers’ the salary must be equal to or exceeds all of:
- the general salary threshold – £20,960 per year (£20,960/48 hours per week/53 weeks = £10.75 per hour)
- 80% of the applicable going rate for the occupation – £14,880 (£7.63 per hour)
- the minimum hourly rate (at least £10.75 per hour)
| Shortage Occupation Code | Occupational Role | Annual Salary Requirements |
|---|---|---|
| 1181 | Health services and public health managers and directors | £33,040 (£16.94 per hour) |
| 1242 | Residential, day and domiciliary care managers and proprietors | £22,640 (£11.61 per hour) |
| 6145 | Care workers and home carers | £20,960 per year (£10.75 per hour) |
| 6146 | Senior care workers | £20,960 per year (£10.75 per hour) |
For further details about the health and care positions eligible for sponsorship click here.
Construction Related Positions
For the occupation code 5212 ‘Welding trades’ the salary must be equal to or exceeds all of:
- the general salary threshold – £20,960 per year (£20,960/48 hours per week/53 weeks = £10.75 per hour)
- 80% of the applicable going rate for the occupation – £18,480 (£9.48 per hour)
- the minimum hourly rate (at least £10.75 per hour)
| Shortage Occupation Code | Occupational Role | Annual Salary Requirements |
|---|---|---|
| 5315 | Carpenters and joiners | £20,960 (£10.75 per hour) |
| 5312 | Bricklayers and masons | £20,960 (£10.75 per hour) |
| 5321 | Plasterers | £20,960 (£10.75 per hour) |
| 5215 | Welding trades | £20,960 (£10.75 per hour) |
For further details about the construction positions eligible for sponsorship click here.
IT Related Positions
| Shortage Occupation Code | Occupational Role | Annual Salary Requirements |
|---|---|---|
| 2135 | IT business analysts, architects and systems designers | £30,080 (£15.43 per hour) |
| 2136 | Programmers and software development professionals | £27,200 (£13.95 per hour) |
| 2137 | Web design and development professionals | £21,440 (£10.99 per hour) |
| 2139 | Information technology and communications professionals not elsewhere classified. Limited to cyber security specialists | £25,680 (£13.17 per hour) |
For further details about the costs associated with sponsoring IT professionals click here.
STEM Related Positions
| Shortage Occupation Code | Occupational Role | Annual Salary Requirements |
|---|---|---|
| 2111 | Chemical scientists in the nuclear industry | £22,800 (£11.69 per hour) |
| 2112 | Biological scientists and biochemists | £24,480 (£12.55 per hour) |
| 2113 | Physical scientists in the construction industry. Limited to engineering geologist hydrogeologist geophysicist | £26,080 (£13.37 per hour) |
| 2113 | Physical scientists in the oil and gas industry. Limited to 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 | £26,080 (£13.37 per hour) |
| 2114 | Social and humanities scientists. Limited to archaeologists | £20,960 (£10.75 per hour) |
| 2121 | Civil engineers | £27,760 (£14.24 per hour) |
| 2122 | Mechanical engineers | £26,400 (£13.54 per hour) |
| 2123 | Electrical engineers | £31,440 (£16.12 per hour) |
| 2124 | Electronics engineers | £27,120 (£13.91 per hour) |
| 2126 | Design and development engineers | £27,280 (£13.99 per hour) |
| 2127 | Production and process engineers | £25,600 (£13.13 per hour) |
| 2129 | Engineering professionals not elsewhere classified | £26,720 (£13.70 per hour) |
| 2425 | Actuaries, economists and statisticians. Limited to bio-informaticians and informaticians | £26,880 (£13.78 per hour) |
| 2461 | Quality control and planning engineers | £25,280 (£12.96 per hour) |
| 3111 | Laboratory technicians | £20,960 (£10.75 per hour) |
Creative Related Positions
Other job roles included in the Shortage Occupation List include medical and teaching positions. However, the minimum salaries are based on national pay scales.
Medical Related Positions
- 2211 – Medical practitioners
- 2212 – Psychologists
- 2213 – Pharmacists
- 2217 – Medical radiographers (including radiotherapy practitioners/technologists)
- 2219 – Health professionals not elsewhere classified
- 2221 – Physiotherapists
- 2222 – Occupational therapists
- 2223 – Speech and language therapists
- 2231 – Nurses
- 3213 – Paramedics
- 6141 – Nursing auxiliaries and assistants
For the salary requirements for the healthcare jobs listed below please consult the Home Office Guidance.
Teaching Positions
- 2314 – Secondary education teaching professionals. Limited to maths, physics, science, computer science and modern foreign languages teachers
- 2314 – Secondary education teaching professionals. Limited to Gaelic teachers
- 2315 – Primary and nursery education teaching professionals. Limited to Gaelic teachers
For the salary requirements for the healthcare jobs listed below please consult the Home Office Guidance.
How are jobs added to the Shortage Occupation List?
The Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) is an independent regulatory body tasked with making decisions regarding the Shortage Occupation List and reporting these to the Home Office. The MAC determines whether a job should be placed on the shortage list based on a range of factors including vacancy rates, working hours, salary, and more.
The MAC also decides whether migrant skilled workers can fill these positions by assessing online Call for Evidence (CfE) questionnaires. This is an online questionnaire sent to stakeholders to collect information on occupations which may be placed on the Skills Occupation List.
What are the benefits of a job being on the Shortage Occupation List?
Employers in the UK can benefit from reduced salary thresholds to recruit international talent provided the job they are trying to fill is listed on the Shortage Occupation List. The Shortage Occupation List salary thresholds are currently £20,960 (£10.75 per hour), or 80% of the going rate for the specific job role (whichever is higher). In comparison, the Skilled Worker visa salary requirement is currently £26,200 per year, minimum hourly rate of £10.75, or going rate for that job title (whichever is higher).
Employers looking to recruit overseas professionals for SOL positions can also benefit from reduced visa application fees. Visa applicants whose job title is on the Shortage Occupation List will pay lower visa fee regardless of whether they are applying from within the UK or from any other country. Please consult the table below to see the comparison of these fees.
| Visa Application For Up To 3 Years | Visa Application For Over 3 Years | |
|---|---|---|
| Skilled Worker Visa From Outside the UK | £625 per person | £1,235 per person |
| Skilled Worker Visa From Within the UK | £719 per person | £1,423 per person |
| Shortage Occupation List | £479 per person | £943 per person |
How can Nation.better assist you?
Nation.better allows businesses to streamline their immigration processes in one digital platform. Whether you require a Sponsor Licence, or you want to support a prospective employee with their visa application. The Nation.better platform seamlessly automates immigration processes to ensure employers remain compliant with Home Office regulations. Our platform asks you and your candidate to complete an array of tasks to proceed to the next stages ensuring a thorough review of your application at every step of your immigration journey. Our immigration advisors review your case and provide relevant feedback to boost your chances of success on your first try.
Furthermore, we offer businesses the opportunity to invite their preferred candidate to complete a complementary Visa Eligibility Check on our platform. This will verify their eligibility and suitability for the determined visa route.
Please book a complimentary consultation with our team, to learn more about our services and how we can assist you.
A Guide To The UK Shortage Occupation List 2023
The Shortage Occupation List (SOL) refers to a list of skilled worker jobs currently in short supply within the UK labour market. Meaning employers are struggling to find suitable professionals to fulfil existing roles. To fulfil these roles businesses in the UK may consider sponsoring international talent with the necessary skills and experience under the Skilled Worker visa route.
Skill shortages have affected several UK sectors. Predominantly, the Healthcare, Hospitality, Construction, and IT industries have experienced difficulties fulfilling growing vacancy rates. This article will provide a full list of jobs eligible for sponsorship on the Shortage Occupation List, as well as inform readers about the salary thresholds for these positions, and much more.
What is a Shortage Occupation Code?
A shortage occupation code is a four-digit number used to describe a job role within a Skilled Worker visa application, by associating it with a numerical code. Therefore, the shortage occupation code refers to a specific job type or role on the Shortage Occupation List.
In order to understand if the job you are recruiting/applying for is on the Shortage Occupation List, please use the ONS Occupation Coding Tool. By determining the 4-digit code for your occupation, you may then refer to the Shortage Occupation List to verify if your occupation is listed.
What jobs are on the Shortage Occupation List?
The UK Shortage Occupation List 2023 consists of various shortage positions across several sectors. The Home Office SOL shows where the skill shortage is most prevalent within England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland. The annual salary threshold is 80% of the current going rate for a specific job title, which we calculated below. For a full breakdown of the SOL by industry below.
Health and Social Care Related Positions
| Shortage Occupation Code | Occupational Role | Annual Salary Requirements |
|---|---|---|
| 1181 | Health services and public health managers and directors | £33,040 (£16.94 per hour) |
| 1242 | Residential, day and domiciliary care managers and proprietors | £22,640 (£11.61 per hour) |
| 6145 | Care workers and home carers | £20,960 per year (£10.75 per hour) |
| 6146 | Senior care workers | £20,960 per year (£10.75 per hour) |
For further details about the health and care positions eligible for sponsorship click here.
Construction Related Positions
| Shortage Occupation Code | Occupational Role | Annual Salary Requirements |
|---|---|---|
| 5315 | Carpenters and joiners | £20,960 (£10.75 per hour) |
| 5312 | Bricklayers and masons | £20,960 (£10.75 per hour) |
| 5321 | Plasterers | £20,960 (£10.75 per hour) |
| 5215 | Welding trades | £20,960 (£10.75 per hour) |
For further details about the construction positions eligible for sponsorship click here.
IT Related Positions
| Shortage Occupation Code | Occupational Role | Annual Salary Requirements |
|---|---|---|
| 2135 | IT business analysts, architects and systems designers | £30,080 (£15.43 per hour) |
| 2136 | Programmers and software development professionals | £27,200 (£13.95 per hour) |
| 2137 | Web design and development professionals | £21,440 (£10.99 per hour) |
| 2139 | Information technology and communications professionals not elsewhere classified. Limited to cyber security specialists | £25,680 (£13.17 per hour) |
For further details about the costs associated with sponsoring IT professionals click here.
STEM Related Positions
| Shortage Occupation Code | Occupational Role | Annual Salary Requirements |
|---|---|---|
| 2111 | Chemical scientists in the nuclear industry | £22,800 (£11.69 per hour) |
| 2112 | Biological scientists and biochemists | £24,480 (£12.55 per hour) |
| 2113 | Physical scientists in the construction industry. Limited to engineering geologist hydrogeologist geophysicist | £26,080 (£13.37 per hour) |
| 2113 | Physical scientists in the oil and gas industry. Limited to 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 | £26,080 (£13.37 per hour) |
| 2114 | Social and humanities scientists. Limited to archaeologists | £20,960 (£10.75 per hour) |
| 2121 | Civil engineers | £27,760 (£14.24 per hour) |
| 2122 | Mechanical engineers | £26,400 (£13.54 per hour) |
| 2123 | Electrical engineers | £31,440 (£16.12 per hour) |
| 2124 | Electronics engineers | £27,120 (£13.91 per hour) |
| 2126 | Design and development engineers | £27,280 (£13.99 per hour) |
| 2127 | Production and process engineers | £25,600 (£13.13 per hour) |
| 2129 | Engineering professionals not elsewhere classified | £26,720 (£13.70 per hour) |
| 2425 | Actuaries, economists and statisticians. Limited to bio-informaticians and informaticians | £26,880 (£13.78 per hour) |
| 2461 | Quality control and planning engineers | £25,280 (£12.96 per hour) |
| 3111 | Laboratory technicians | £20,960 (£10.75 per hour) |
Creative Related Positions
| Shortage Occupation Code | Occupational Role | Annual Salary Requirements |
|---|---|---|
| 3411 | Artists | £16,400 (£8.41 per hour) |
| 3414 | Dancers and choreographers. Limited to eligible skilled classical ballet dancers or skilled contemporary dancers | £16,960 (£8.70 per hour) |
| 3415 | Musicians. Limited to eligible orchestral musicians who are leaders, principals, sub-principals or numbered string positions | £24,960 (£12.80 per hour) |
| 3416 | Arts officers, producers and directors | £18,400 (£9.44 per hour) |
| 3421 | Graphic designers | £18,480 (£9.48 per hour) |
Other job roles included in the Shortage Occupation List include medical and teaching positions. However, the minimum salaries are based on national pay scales.
Medical Related Positions
- 2211 – Medical practitioners
- 2212 – Psychologists
- 2213 – Pharmacists
- 2217 – Medical radiographers (including radiotherapy practitioners/technologists)
- 2219 – Health professionals not elsewhere classified
- 2221 – Physiotherapists
- 2222 – Occupational therapists
- 2223 – Speech and language therapists
- 2231 – Nurses
- 3213 – Paramedics
- 6141 – Nursing auxiliaries and assistants
For the salary requirements for the healthcare jobs listed below please consult the Home Office Guidance.
Teaching Positions
- 2314 – Secondary education teaching professionals. Limited to maths, physics, science, computer science and modern foreign languages teachers
- 2314 – Secondary education teaching professionals. Limited to Gaelic teachers
- 2315 – Primary and nursery education teaching professionals. Limited to Gaelic teachers
For the salary requirements for the healthcare jobs listed below please consult the Home Office Guidance.
How are jobs added to the Shortage Occupation List?
The Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) is an independent regulatory body tasked with making decisions regarding the Shortage Occupation List and reporting these to the Home Office. The MAC determines whether a job should be placed on the shortage list based on a range of factors including vacancy rates, working hours, salary, and more.
The MAC also decides whether migrant skilled workers can fill these positions by assessing online Call for Evidence (CfE) questionnaires. This is an online questionnaire sent to stakeholders to collect information on occupations which may be placed on the Skills Occupation List.
What are the benefits of a job being on the Shortage Occupation List?
Employers in the UK can benefit from reduced salary thresholds to recruit international talent provided the job they are trying to fill is listed on the Shortage Occupation List. The Shortage Occupation List salary thresholds are currently £20,480, or 80% of the going rate for the specific job role (whichever is higher). In comparison, the Skilled Worker visa salary requirement is currently £25,600 per year, based on the hourly rate, or going rate for that job title (whichever is higher). Overall this is a significant advantage as it allows UK employers to fulfil jobs facing shortages, with a lower salary.
Employers looking to recruit overseas professionals for SOL positions can also benefit from reduced visa application fees. Visa applicants whose job title is on the Shortage Occupation List will pay the same fees regardless of whether they are applying from within the UK or from any other country. Please consult the table below to see the comparison of these fees.
| Visa Application For Up To 3 Years | Visa Application For Over 3 Years | |
|---|---|---|
| Skilled Worker Visa From Outside the UK | £625 per person | £1,235 per person |
| Skilled Worker Visa From Within the UK | £719 per person | £1,423 per person |
| Shortage Occupation List | £479 per person | £943 per person |
The reduced visa application fees mean businesses are spending less to sponsor international skilled workers, which is incredibly advantageous.
How can Nation.better assist you?
Nation.better allows businesses to streamline their immigration processes in one digital platform. Whether you require a Sponsor Licence, or you want to support a prospective employee with their visa application. The Nation.better platform seamlessly automates immigration processes to ensure employers remain compliant with Home Office regulations. Our platform asks you and your candidate to complete an array of tasks to proceed to the next stages ensuring a thorough review of your application at every step of your immigration journey. Our immigration advisors review your case and provide relevant feedback to boost your chances of success on your first try.
Furthermore, we offer businesses the opportunity to invite their preferred candidate to complete a complementary Visa Eligibility Check on our platform. This will verify their eligibility and suitability for the determined visa route.
Please book a complimentary consultation with our team, to learn more about our services and how we can assist you.
FAQs
You can verify this by using the ONS Occupation Coding Tool to determine the 4-digit code that refers to the occupation in question and then searching for this occupation on the Shortage Occupation List.
If the occupation code is listed on this Skilled Worker occupation list, it is still eligible for sponsorship but it is not currently facing shortages in the UK.
Jobs on the Shortage Occupation List have reduced salary thresholds compared to the Skilled Worker salary threshold. International talent whose positions are on the SOL can be paid 80% of the occupation going rate or are based on the national pay scale.
The main benefit of a position being on the SOL for employers is the reduced salary thresholds. Furthermore, there is a reduction in the visa application fees for positions on the SOL.
Employers must first obtain a Sponsor Licence before hiring overseas professionals, they must then assist their candidate in applying for a Skilled Worker visa. The process for sponsoring international talent whose positions are on the SOL is no different than the process of applying for the Skilled Worker route. The only differences are the reduced salary expectations and lower visa application fees.
The Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) assesses whether an occupation should be placed on the Shortage Occupation List. This decision is based on a range of factors including vacancy rates, working hours, salary, and more. The MAC is also responsible for deciding whether this position is suitable for sponsorship.
The Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) is an independent regulatory body. They are responsible for making data-informed judgments regarding the Shortage Occupation List and reporting these to the Home Office. Specifically, they are responsible for deciding whether a job should be added or removed from the SOL based on data they have collected during online Call for Evidence (CfE) questionnaires.
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FAQs
You can verify this by using the ONS Occupation Coding Tool to determine the 4-digit code that refers to the occupation in question and then searching for this occupation on the Shortage Occupation List.
If the occupation code is listed on this Skilled Worker occupation list, it is still eligible for sponsorship but it is not currently facing shortages in the UK.
Jobs on the Shortage Occupation List have reduced salary thresholds compared to the Skilled Worker salary threshold. International talent whose positions are on the SOL can be paid 80% of the occupation going rate or are based on the national pay scale.
The main benefit of a position being on the SOL for employers is the reduced salary thresholds. Furthermore, there is a reduction in the visa application fees for positions on the SOL.
Employers must first obtain a Sponsor Licence before hiring overseas professionals, they must then assist their candidate in applying for a Skilled Worker visa. The process for sponsoring international talent whose positions are on the SOL is no different than the process of applying for the Skilled Worker route. The only differences are the reduced salary expectations and lower visa application fees.
The Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) assesses whether an occupation should be placed on the Shortage Occupation List. This decision is based on a range of factors including vacancy rates, working hours, salary, and more. The MAC is also responsible for deciding whether this position is suitable for sponsorship.
The Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) is an independent regulatory body. They are responsible for making data-informed judgments regarding the Shortage Occupation List and reporting these to the Home Office. Specifically, they are responsible for deciding whether a job should be added or removed from the SOL based on data they have collected during online Call for Evidence (CfE) questionnaires.