Mar 28th, 2023
3 mins
Following a request from the Minister for Safe and Legal Migration, The Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) have issued a call for evidence for its review of the Shortage Occupation List (SOL).
The SOL lists occupations where there is a shortage of suitable skilled labour in the UK, and where it is sensible to fill those shortages with migrant workers through a skilled work visa. The occupations on the list are given some dispensations within the immigration rules, designed to make it easier for employers to access migrant labour to fill vacancies in those areas of identified shortage. For example, if an occupation is on the SOL employers do not have to meet the full salary threshold that other jobs on the Skilled Worker visa must meet.
The government periodically commissions the MAC to recommend which jobs should be placed on the SOL. The MAC considers the data and qualitative evidence from stakeholders and compiles a list for the SOL. However, as the SOL forms part of the Immigration Rules, ultimately it is for the government to decide which occupations are selected.
Views are sought on the roles that are being filled by migrant workers, the salaries they are paid and implications of potential changes. You can read the commissioning letter sent to Mac along with their response here.
MAC have also published a shortage methodology review providing details on how they intend to assess the shortage occupation list. This can be found here
All responses to the call must be submitted by 26th May.
