Skilled work visas for foreign workers won’t be open-ended for those not holding graduate-level qualifications, the Home Office has announced.
This decision is part of a broader strategy to limit net migration to the UK, which was outlined earlier this week.
According to a report from the Guardian, the standard visa requirements will only apply to jobs categorized at level 6 in the Regulatory Qualification Framework (RQF).
Details from the Home Office indicate that individuals filling positions rated RQF 6 or lower will only be allowed temporary entry into the UK, and this is based on recognized significant shortages in certain industries.
Moreover, employers who want to hire from abroad must demonstrate that they are actively working to improve local recruitment and skill development.
Interior Secretary Yvette Cooper described the plan as essential for regaining control over the immigration system, enhancing national skills training, and stabilizing net immigration while promoting economic growth.
Next Monday, she is set to present a government white paper focused on restricting net immigration.
Despite a noticeable decrease in the number of skilled visas issued in recent years, additional barriers to hiring overseas workers could particularly impact sectors like care and hospitality. One care organization warned that without government intervention, many care providers might struggle to survive in a competitive job market.
To address these concerns, a labor market evidence group is being established.
This group will include members from various organizations, including the Industrial and Skills teams and the Immigration Advisory Committee, to evaluate sectors that might be too reliant on international labor and encourage investment in domestic skills.
Cooper faces considerable pressure to further limit net migration, especially with upcoming reforms. Control over ten councils is set to shift on May 1, and these reforms are backed by strong polling support for Nigel Farage’s party.
In discussing the changes to skilled visas, Cooper emphasized the government’s responsibility inherited from the previous administration, framing it as part of a broader “free market experiment” in the EU.
She expressed concern about the last government’s failure to manage immigration effectively and address the domestic skills shortage, stating that this erodes public trust and disrupts the labor market, ultimately harming both the immigration system and the economy.
The exact impact of the skilled visa modifications on overall numbers remains uncertain. For context, while the entrance of workers at skill levels below RQF 6 has diminished, those with degree-level qualifications have consistently entered at around 75,000 annually.
Nadra Ahmed, executive chair of the National Care Association, noted that her organization would need to assess the proposal carefully, expressing worries about potential “unintended consequences” for a sector already reliant on about 70,000 foreign staff amidst 120,000 unfilled positions.
“It seems strange that these new rules could complicate matters further, given the clear statistics,” she commented. “We’re struggling to attract a domestic workforce now.”
“If these changes aren’t adequately funded, the economic challenges within the social care sector will likely intensify, pushing providers out of business.”
