Shortage Occupation List 2024 DavidsonMorris

Shortage Occupation
List 2024
Anne (https://www.davidsonmorris.com/author/an

Morris ne/)
5 March (https://www.davidsonmorris.com/2024/03/

2024 05/)
IN THIS SECTION
1. What is the UK’s Shortage Occupation List?
https://www.davidsonmorris.com/shortage-occupation-list/ 22/04/2024, 08 00
Page 1 of 40
:
2. Latest updates to the Shortage Occupation List
3. UK Shortage Occupation List 2024
4. Do you have a question about the Shortage Occupation List?
5. Shortage Occupation List FAQs

6. What is shortage occupation list?
7. What are the shortage occupations in the UK?
8. What is SOL list?

9. Author
10. About DavidsonMorris
The Shortage Occupation List has been replaced by

the Immigration Salary List (ISL)
( https://www.davidsonmorris.com/immigration-
salary-list/
salary-list/)) since 4 April 2024.
The ISL specifies which jobs the government deems

to be in shortage in the UK, providing certain
advantages for workers applying for sponsorship in
such roles.
This article predates the removal of the Shortage

Occupation List. Please refer to our article on the
ISL for up to date information about sponsoring
Page 2 of 40
:
workers in shortage roles in the UK.
The UK’s Shortage Occupation List can be a source of
much confusion for employers sponsoring visa workers
(https://www.davidsonmorris.com/skilled-worker-visa/),
particularly when hiring under a sponsorship licence
(https://www.davidsonmorris.com/sponsor-licence-
application-2021) for the first time or recruiting for a
different type of role.
It is important however for employers, HR professionals
and anyone involved in your organisation’s international
recruitment
(https://www.davidsonmorris.com/recruitment/) to
understand the rules and application of the UK’s skills
shortage list. Issues or errors when hiring sponsored
workers can result in Home Office enforcement,

including licence suspensions
Page 3 of 40
:
suspended/) and curtailed employee visas
(https://www.davidsonmorris.com/curtailment-letter/).
What is the UK’s Shortage Occupation

List?
Under the UK’s points-based immigration system,
(https://www.davidsonmorris.com/points-based-
immigration-system/) most non-UK resident workers

must apply for a visa to come to the UK to work
(https://www.davidsonmorris.com/uk-work-visa/). The
primary route is the Skilled Worker visa
(https://www.davidsonmorris.com/skilled-worker-visa/),
which replaced the Tier 2 (General) visa.
(https://www.davidsonmorris.com/skilled-worker-visa-
replaces-tier-2/)For employers looking to sponsor skilled
non-UK resident workers
application-2021), a number of strict requirements apply
Page 4 of 40
:
in respect of the role being recruited for. To be eligible
for this visa, the worker must meet the eligibility
requirements
(https://www.davidsonmorris.com/appendix-skilled-
worker/), covering criteria such as skills, language and
salary requirements
(https://www.davidsonmorris.com/skilled-worker-
minimum-salary/).
The shortage occupation list is detailed in Appendix
Skilled Occupations of the UK Immigration Rules
(https://www.davidsonmorris.com/uk-immigration-
rules/). It comprises those roles deemed by the UK
Government to be in short supply within the UK resident
labour market, with such roles afforded lower application
fees for sponsored work visa applications.
Recommendations for roles to be included on the list are
generally made by the independent Migration Advisory
Committee (MAC) with a view to meeting the needs of
UK businesses and better reflecting the selective nature
Page 5 of 40
:
of the UK Points Based System
immigration-system/) and sponsored visa applications.
The recommendations may then be accepted by the
Government.
Latest updates to the Shortage

Occupation List
The latest version of the Shortage Occupation List was
published by the Home Office in August 2023. However,
significant reform of the list, and the roles that are
included, is expected in the coming months in light of key
policy developments, including:
October 2023: the MAC published a detailed report
on the UK SOL, the key findings of which we
summarise here
(https://www.davidsonmorris.com/mac-proposes-
reforms-to-shortage-occupation-list/). As well as
Page 6 of 40
:
putting forward recommendations to add
occupations to the list and to remove the going rate
discount for SOL roles, the MAC also uses this report
to put questions to the government about the future
role of the SOL within UK immigration. This includes
recommending changing the name of the Shortage

Occupation List to the “Immigration Salary Discount
List” (ISDL) as a more accurate reflection of its
purpose.
December 2023: the Government announced a 5
point immigration plan
(https://www.davidsonmorris.com/5-point-uk-
immigration-plan-announced/) which confirmed that
the Shortage Occupation List would be replaced with
a new ‘Immigration Salary List’. The new list is to
retain the general threshold discount, but will not
feature the 20% going rate salary discount for
shortage occupations. The changes are expected to
take effect in Spring 2024.
January 2024: the Home Office commissioned the
Page 7 of 40
:
MAC to carry out a ‘rapid review’
(https://www.davidsonmorris.com/mac-rapid-review-
into-new-uk-immigration-salary-list/) of the SOL,
which is now to be called the Immigration Salary List,
with a view to amending the roles on the list and
revising relevant salary thresholds.

February 2024: the MAC is expected to publish its
rapid review report by 23 February 2024.
April 2024
2024: following the MAC rapid review, a new
Immigration Salary List is expected to come into
force as part of the Spring Immigration Rules.
UK Shortage Occupation List 2024

The SOL is made up of two tables, which also specify the
Standard Occupational Classification Code (SOC)
(https://www.davidsonmorris.com/soc-code/) for each
eligible role.
Page 8 of 40
:
Table 1: Shortage occupations where applicants for entry
clearance or permission to stay may be paid 80% of the
going rate for the occupation code:
Occupation
Occupation Job
Job types
types Areas
Areas of of Annual
Annual
code
code included
included onon the
the the
the UKUK salary
salary
shor
shortage
tage where
where (80%
(80%
occupations
occupations list
list there
there isis of
of
aa going
going
shor
shortage
tage rate)
rate)
1181
1181 Health services and England, 80% of
public health Scotland, going
managers and Wales, rate:
directors – all jobs Northern £33,040
Ireland (£16.94
per
hour)
1242
1242 Residential, day England, 80% of
and domiciliary Scotland, going
care managers and Wales, rate:
proprietors – all Northern £22,640
jobs Ireland (£11.61
per
hour)
Page 9 of 40
:
2111
2111 Chemical scientists Scotland 80% of
– only jobs in the only going
nuclear industry rate:
£22,800
(£11.69
per
hour)
2112
2112 Biological scientists England, 80% of
and biochemists – Scotland, going
all jobs Wales, rate:
Northern £24,480
Ireland (£12.55
per
hour)
2113
2113 Physical scientists England, 80% of
– only the following Scotland, going
jobs in the Wales, rate:
construction- Northern £26,080
related ground Ireland (£13.37
engineering per
industry: hour)
engineering
geologist
hydrogeologist
geophysicist
2113
2113 Physical scientists England, 80% of
Page 10 of 40
:
– only the following Scotland, going
jobs in the oil and Wales, rate:
gas industry: Northern £26,080
geophysicist Ireland (£13.37
geoscientist per
geologist hour)
geochemist
technical services
manager in the
decommissioning
and waste areas of
the nuclear industry
senior resource
geologist and staff
geologist in the
mining sector
2114
2114 Social and England, 80% of
humanities Scotland, going
scientists – only Wales, rate:
archaeologists Northern £20,480
Ireland (£10.50
per
hour)
2121
2121 Civil engineers – all England, 80% of
jobs Scotland, going
Wales, rate:
Northern £27,760
Ireland (£14.24
Page 11 of 40
:
per
hour)
2122
2122 Mechanical England, 80% of
engineers – all jobs Scotland, going
Wales, rate:
Northern £26,400
Ireland (£13.54
per
hour)
2123
2123 Electrical engineers England, 80% of
– all jobs Scotland, going
Wales, rate:
Northern £31,440
Ireland (£16.12
per
hour)
2124
2124 Electronics England, 80% of
engineers – all jobs Scotland, going
Wales, rate:
Northern £27,120
Ireland (£13.91
per
hour)
2126
2126 Design and England, 80% of
development Scotland, going
engineers – all jobs Wales, rate:
Page 12 of 40
:
Northern £27,280
Ireland (£13.99
per
hour)
2127
2127 Production and England, 80% of
process engineers – Scotland, going
all jobs Wales, rate:
Northern £25,600
Ireland (£13.13
per
hour)
2129
2129 Engineering England, 80% of
professionals not Scotland, going
elsewhere Wales, rate:
classified – all jobs Northern £26,720
Ireland (£13.70
per
hour)
2135
2135 IT business England, 80% of
analysts, architects Scotland, going
and systems Wales, rate:
designers – all jobs Northern £30,080
Ireland (£15.43
per
hour)
2136
2136 Programmers and England, 80% of
Page 13 of 40
:
software Scotland, going
development Wales, rate:
professionals – all Northern £27,200
jobs Ireland (£13.95
per
hour)
2137
2137 Web design and England, 80% of
development Scotland, going
professionals – all Wales, rate:
jobs Northern £21,440
Ireland (£10.99
per
hour)
2139
2139 Information England, 80% of
technology and Scotland, going
communications Wales, rate:
professionals not Northern £25,680
elsewhere Ireland (£13.17
classified – only per
cyber security hour)
specialists
 02074940118(tel:02074940118)
 hello@davidsonmorris.com(mailto:hello@davidsonmorris.com)
2216
2216 Veterinarians – all England, 80% of

jobs Scotland, going
Wales, rate:
Northern £26,960
(https://www.davidsonmorris.com) Ireland (£13.83
per
Page 14 of 40
:
hour)
2425
2425 Actuaries, England, 80% of
economists and Scotland, going
statisticians – only Wales, rate:
bio-informaticians Northern £26,880
and informaticians Ireland (£13.78
per
hour)
2431
2431 Architects – all jobs England, 80% of
Scotland, going
Wales, rate:
Northern £26,320
Ireland (£13.50
per
hour)
2461
2461 Quality control and England, 80% of
planning engineers Scotland, going
– all jobs Wales, rate:
Northern £25,280
Ireland (£12.96
per
hour)
3111
3111 Laboratory England, 80% of
technicians – all Scotland, going
jobs Wales, rate:
Page 15 of 40
:
Northern £15,120
Ireland (£7.75
per
hour)
3411
3411 Artists – all jobs England, 80% of
Scotland, going
Wales, rate:
Northern £16,400
Ireland (£8.41
per
hour)
3414
3414 Dancers and England, 80% of
choreographers – Scotland, going
only skilled Wales, rate:
classical ballet Northern £16,960
dancers or skilled Ireland (£8.70
contemporary per
dancers who meet hour)
the standard
required by
internationally
recognised UK
ballet or
contemporary
dance companies.
The company must
be endorsed as
being
Page 16 of 40
:
internationally
recognised by a UK
industry body such
as the Arts
Councils (of
England, Scotland
or Wales).
3415
3415 Musicians – only England, 80% of
skilled orchestral Scotland, going
musicians who are Wales, rate:
leaders, principals, Northern £24,960
sub-principals or Ireland (£12.80
numbered string per
positions, and who hour)
meet the standard
required by
internationally
recognised UK
orchestras.
The orchestra must
a full member of
the Association of
British Orchestras.
3416
3416 Arts officers, England, 80% of
producers and Scotland, going
directors – all jobs Wales, rate:
Northern £23,360
Page 17 of 40
:
Ireland (£11.98
per
hour)
3421
3421 Graphic designers England, 80% of
Wales, rate:
Northern £18,400
Ireland (£9.44
per
hour)
5119
5119 Agriculture and England, 80% of
fishing trades not Scotland, going
classified – only Northern £17,600
jobs in the fishing Ireland (£9.03
industry per
hour)
5215
5215 Welding trades – England, 80% of
only high integrity Scotland, going
pipe welders, Wales, rate:
where the job Northern £18,480
requires 3 or more Ireland (£9.48
years’ related on- per
the-job experience. hour)
This experience
must not have been
gained through
Page 18 of 40
:
illegal working.
5312
5312 Bricklayers and England, 80% of
masons – all jobs Scotland, going
Wales, rate:
Northern £18,640
Ireland (£9.56
per
hour)
5313
5313 Roofers, roof tilers England, 80% of
and slaters – all Scotland, going
jobs Wales, rate:
Northern £16,160
Ireland (£8.29
per
hour)
5315
5315 Carpenters and England, 80% of
joiners – all jobs Scotland, going
Wales, rate:
Northern £18,000
Ireland (£9.23
per
hour)
5319
5319 Construction and England, 80% of
building trades not Scotland, going
Page 19 of 40
:
classified – all jobs Northern £17,760
Ireland (£9.11
per
hour)
5321
5321 Plasterers – all jobs England, 80% of
Scotland, going
Wales, rate:
Northern £19,200
Ireland (£9.85
per
hour)
6145
6145 Care workers and England, No
home carers – Scotland, going
private households Wales, rate –
or individuals (other Northern the
than sole traders Ireland salary
sponsoring must be
someone to work at least
for their business) £20,960
cannot sponsor per year
Skilled Worker or
applicants £10.75
per
hour
6146
6146 Senior care workers England, 80% of
Page 20 of 40
:
Wales, rate:
Northern £14,880
Ireland (£7.63
per
hour)
9119
9119 Fishing and other England, 80% of
elementary Scotland, going
agriculture Wales, rate:
occupations not Northern £14,400
elsewhere Ireland (£7.38
classified – only per
deckhands on large hour)
fishing vessel (9
metres and above).
The job must
require 3 or more
years’ full-time
experience. This
experience must
not have been
gained through
illegal working.
Table 2: Shortage occupations in eligible health and
education occupation codes where going rates are based
on national pay scales:
Page 21 of 40
:
Occupation
Occupation Job
Job types
types included
included on
on the
the Areas
Areas of
of
code
code shor
shortage
tage occupations
occupations list
list the
the UK
UK
where
where
there
there is
is
aa
shor
shortage
tage
2211
2211 Medical practitioners – all jobs England,
Scotland,
Wales,
Northern
Ireland
2212
2212 Psychologists – all jobs England,
Scotland,
Wales,
Northern
Ireland
2213
2213 Pharmacists – all jobs England,
Scotland,
Wales,
Northern
Ireland
2217
2217 Medical radiographers – all England,
jobs (including radiotherapy Scotland,
practitioners / technologists) Wales,
Northern
Ireland
Page 22 of 40
:
2219
2219 Health professionals not England,
elsewhere classified – all jobs Scotland,
Wales,
Northern
Ireland
2221
2221 Physiotherapists – all jobs England,
Scotland,
Wales,
Northern
Ireland
2222
2222 Occupational therapists – all England,
jobs Scotland,
Wales,
Northern
Ireland
2223
2223 Speech and language England,
therapists – all jobs Scotland,
Wales,
Northern
Ireland
2231
2231 Nurses – all jobs England,
Scotland,
Wales,
Northern
Ireland
Page 23 of 40
:
2314
2314 Secondary education teaching England,
professionals – only teachers in Scotland,
maths, physics, science (where Wales,
an element of physics will be Northern
taught), computer science and Ireland
modern foreign languages
2314
2314 Secondary education teaching Scotland
professionals – only teachers in only
Gaelic
2315
2315 Primary and nursery education Scotland
teaching professionals – only only
Gaelic medium teachers
2442
2442 Social workers – all jobs England,
Scotland,
Wales,
Northern
Ireland
3213
3213 Paramedics – all jobs England,
Scotland,
Wales,
Northern
Ireland
6141
6141 Nursing auxiliaries and England,
assistants – all jobs Scotland,
Page 24 of 40
:
Wales,
Northern
Ireland
Do you have a question about the

Shortage Occupation List?
DavidsonMorris specialises in helping employers navigate
the UK immigration rules to meet their recruitment

needs. The list is subject to frequent change; as roles are
removed and added to the list, employers have to ensure
they are up to date on the latest status of the list and the
impact on recruitment activity.
For advice on the shortage occupation list

(https://www.davidsonmorris.com/uk-shortage-
occupation-list/), its implications on your recruitment
processes, visa eligibility, assigning SOC codes
(https://www.davidsonmorris.com/soc-code/) or any
issue relating to hiring points-based visa workers, contact
us (https://www.davidsonmorris.com/contact-us/).
Page 25 of 40
:
Shortage Occupation List FAQs
What is shortage occupation list?
The UK Government maintains a list of
occupations which are deemed to be of short
supply in the UK. Employers are allowed to hire
and sponsor overseas workers in these roles
under more favourable criteria than for roles that
are not on the list.
What are the shortage occupations in the UK?
The full list is under Appendix Skilled
Occupations. The list is subject to frequent
change and employers should ensure they are
working to the most up to date version when

relying on the SOL to sponsor visa workers.
Page 26 of 40
:
What is SOL list?
The SOL list is the UK's Shortage Occupation
List, which is referred to when sponsoring
overseas workers in skilled roles.
Last updated: 5 March 2024
Author
Author Profile Related Posts
Anne Morris (https://www.davidsonmorris.com/author/anne/)
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:
Founder and Managing Director Anne Morris is a fully
qualified solicitor
(https://solicitors.lawsociety.org.uk/person/36202/anne-
frances-morris) and trusted adviser to large corporates
through to SMEs, providing strategic immigration and
global mobility advice to support employers with UK

operations to meet their workforce needs through
corporate immigration.
She is a recognised by Legal 500
(https://www.legal500.com/firms/4225-
davidsonmorris/7126-london-england/lawyers/535804-
anne-morris/)and Chambers
(https://chambers.com/lawyer/anne-morris-uk-1:360172)
as a legal expert and delivers Board-level advice on
business migration and compliance risk management as
well as overseeing the firm’s development of new client
propositions and delivery of cost and time efficient
processing of applications.
Page 28 of 40
:
Anne is an active public speaker, immigration
commentator (https://www.lawble.co.uk/), and
immigration policy contributor and regularly hosts
training sessions for employers and HR professionals
Anne Morris
https://www.davidsonmorris.com/author/anne/
Immigration & Societal Contributions
(https://www.davidsonmorris.com/immigration-
societal-contributions/)
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A Guide to the Study Visa UK System
(https://www.davidsonmorris.com/study-visa-uk/)
Anne Morris
The Principles of Immigration Sponsorship
(https://www.davidsonmorris.com/sponsorship/)
Anne Morris
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The UK Points Based System: A Guide
system/)
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(https://www.legal500.com/firms/4225-
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Shortage Occupation

1. What is the UK’s Shortage Occupation List?

4. Do you have a question about the Shortage Occupation List?

5. Shortage Occupation List FAQs

7. What are the shortage occupations in the UK?

8. What is SOL list?

10. About DavidsonMorris

The Shortage Occupation List has been replaced by

The ISL specifies which jobs the government deems

This article predates the removal of the Shortage

The UK’s Shortage Occupation List can be a source of

much confusion for employers sponsoring visa workers

particularly when hiring under a sponsorship licence

different type of role.

It is important however for employers, HR professionals

and anyone involved in your organisation’s international

understand the rules and application of the UK’s skills

shortage list. Issues or errors when hiring sponsored

workers can result in Home Office enforcement,

suspended/) and curtailed employee visas

What is the UK’s Shortage Occupation

immigration-system/) most non-UK resident workers

primary route is the Skilled Worker visa

which replaced the Tier 2 (General) visa.

replaces-tier-2/)For employers looking to sponsor skilled

non-UK resident workers

application-2021), a number of strict requirements apply

for this visa, the worker must meet the eligibility

worker/), covering criteria such as skills, language and

The shortage occupation list is detailed in Appendix

Skilled Occupations of the UK Immigration Rules

rules/). It comprises those roles deemed by the UK

Government to be in short supply within the UK resident

labour market, with such roles afforded lower application

fees for sponsored work visa applications.

Recommendations for roles to be included on the list are

generally made by the independent Migration Advisory

Committee (MAC) with a view to meeting the needs of

UK businesses and better reflecting the selective nature

immigration-system/) and sponsored visa applications.

The recommendations may then be accepted by the

Latest updates to the Shortage

published by the Home Office in August 2023. However,

significant reform of the list, and the roles that are

included, is expected in the coming months in light of key

policy developments, including:

October 2023: the MAC published a detailed report

on the UK SOL, the key findings of which we

occupations to the list and to remove the going rate

to put questions to the government about the future

role of the SOL within UK immigration. This includes

recommending changing the name of the Shortage

List” (ISDL) as a more accurate reflection of its

December 2023: the Government announced a 5

point immigration plan

immigration-plan-announced/) which confirmed that

the Shortage Occupation List would be replaced with

a new ‘Immigration Salary List’. The new list is to

retain the general threshold discount, but will not

feature the 20% going rate salary discount for

shortage occupations. The changes are expected to

take effect in Spring 2024.

January 2024: the Home Office commissioned the

into-new-uk-immigration-salary-list/) of the SOL,