The United Kingdom is comprised of four nations: England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland. The economy of these four countries is held up by the labor force in the UK, but local professionals are not always sufficient to fill all the employment gaps in every company. This deficit is called a skill shortage.
To prop up the UK economy, the government allows skilled workers from other countries to live in this region and fill those positions. If moving to England, Scotland, Wales, or Northern Ireland for work sounds enticing, then you should look into the skill shortage occupation list.
What is the UK Shortage Occupation List (SOL)
Now called the UK immigration salary list, this tool is designed to detail all sponsored jobs that are available to foreign workers. Let’s discuss the purpose of this resource and why it is relevant to your professional goals.
Purpose & Function
The shortage occupation list plays a critical role in propping up both local economies and the national economy. It helps address workforce gaps when the local labor supply is not enough to meet the demands of all businesses. The purpose of the list is to attract skilled labor from other countries to the UK.
Eligibility for Skilled Worker Visa
To live and work in the UK as a non-citizen, you must apply for a work visa. There are several programs available for skilled worker visas. If you want your application to be approved, finding a job on the shortage occupation list dramatically increases your chances. These shortage occupations represent the greatest needs for UK businesses, so being available to fill a position makes you an appealing candidate for a visa.
How the SOL is Determined
The UK government uses several criteria when assessing jobs to include on the immigration salary list. First, there must be a high demand for the role that cannot be met by the local workforce. Second, the job must require specific skill sets, education qualifications, or professional experience. The position must also be with a company approved to sponsor overseas workers. If these elements are present, the occupation will most likely be added to the list.
In-Demand Occupations and Sectors in the UK
Many employers in England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland want to sponsor skilled workers from other countries. You will find the following jobs are in high demand on the shortage occupation list.
Health and Social Care
Healthcare and social services are both massive sectors in the United Kingdom. General practitioners are needed across the region, along with senior care workers, home carers, registered nurses, mental health experts, public health managers, specialists, and psychiatrists. Foreign social workers are also critical for UK employers, so if you work with vulnerable individuals and families, you can find numerous openings on the shortage occupation list.
Engineering and Technology
The workforce needs engineers to support multiple industries, including construction, infrastructure, computer science, telecommunications, power systems, and software. Some roles that are highly coveted include process engineers, software development engineers, project managers, and electrical specialists.
Education
The education sector is always looking for skilled migrants to fill the ranks of academia. Secondary education teaching professionals in subjects like maths, physics, and modern foreign languages are needed all over the UK. Special needs educators can work with students who have additional needs. University professors and training instructors, such as nursery education teaching professionals, are also in high demand on the shortage occupation list.
Construction
Construction and building trades are crucial for maintaining infrastructure and creating new structures in the UK. Carpenters, joiners, bricklayers, masons, roof tilers, and slaters, are needed nationwide, as well as trades not elsewhere classified. If you have skills in these areas, you will be a valuable job candidate.
Other Priority Sectors
The shortage occupation list also includes professionals not elsewhere classified. Experienced chefs are needed for restaurants and other hospitality businesses. High-integrity pipe welders can find jobs in the construction or shipbuilding sectors. There are also many openings for art-related careers, such as skilled classical ballet dancers, skilled orchestral musicians, and skilled contemporary dancers. Art managers and proprietors are similarly in high demand to help maintain British culture.
Benefits of Working in a UK Skill Shortage Occupation
For skilled worker applicants, England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland offer numerous opportunities. If you come from a foreign country and want to work in the UK, you will need a visa. Here are the benefits of acquiring a visa in this country to work in shortage occupations.
Easier Visa Access
First, a visa is much easier to acquire if you are considered skilled labor. The salary requirements are lower for these visa types, so more jobs would allow you to qualify for various programs. When employers sponsor skilled worker applicants, those applications tend to be a priority since they bring more talent to the UK.
Job Opportunities
The more skills you offer, the more likely you are to have numerous professional opportunities. For example, only skilled orchestral musicians stand a chance of joining internationally-recognized UK orchestras, so your qualifications can make you stand out from other candidates. There is high demand for many of these jobs, so if you have the experience, skill set, and educational background, you have a greater chance of finding a career.
Salary Potential
Jobs listed on the shortage occupation list are top priorities for UK employers. That means you can receive higher salaries due to the increased demand for your talents.
Career Progression
Finding a job is important, but the potential for career growth is just as essential for foreign workers. Pursuing positions on the immigration salary list will open up future opportunities as you gain experience in high-demand industries in the UK.
Navigating the UK Shortage Occupation List
If skill-shortage occupations in England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland interest you, then navigating these lists the right way is essential. Here are some tips to improve your experience searching for work as a migrant in the UK.
Checking Your Eligibility
The government offers numerous resources to help you determine your eligibility. The Standard Occupation Classification codes make it easier to interpret which positions you qualify for, so understanding the occupation code job types is essential. The shortage occupation list itself also helps you filter through the types of visas you can apply for to work in those roles. There is also a CASCOT occupation coding tool that lets you research what code applies to your profession,
Applying for a Skilled Worker Visa
There are two crucial elements involved in applying for a worker visa: finding a sponsor and the points system. Workers must receive a sponsorship from authorized employers to qualify for most working visas. Many of these applications use a points-based system to assess candidates, so the more experience, skills, and education you have, the more likely you are to be approved. Other factors will also impact your score, such as health, finances, and English proficiency.
Additional Considerations for UK Job Requirements
Whether you are seeking a career in the oil and gas industry, the healthcare sector, education, or any number of industries, there are additional considerations when you apply for a visa program.
English Language Requirement
Proficiency in English is required for most visa programs and career fields. You will need to pass a language proficiency test with a relevant assessing authority to qualify for a visa. Additionally, your documentation should all be in English or Welsh when you apply.
Maintenance Funds
To qualify for a worker visa, you must prove that you can support yourself financially while living in the United Kingdom. Depending on which program you apply to, you may need savings of several thousand dollars available when you move to the area to start working.
Criminal Record Checks
Before staying in England, Scotland, Wales, or Northern Ireland, government officials want to know that you will not burden society. A criminal record check is standard with most visa applications to ensure you don’t have a history of criminal misconduct. If you have past offenses, they could be grounds for visa application refusal.
The United Kingdom is a great place to live and work. One of the simplest routes to staying in this region as a migrant is with a skilled worker visa. However, to obtain this type of visa, you must be sponsored for a specific role with an approved employer. Finding these jobs is simpler if you know how to navigate the shortage occupation list, which is now called the immigration salary list. This list offers numerous high-demand careers to migrant workers, including secondary education teaching professionals, business analysts, software development professionals, systems designers, fishing trades, managers, and proprietors.
If you dream of living in the UK and working in a high-demand job, research the shortage occupation list to find a suitable employer to sponsor your visa application.