The Temporary Shortage List (TSL) is being introduced under reforms announced in the Government’s May 2025 Immigration White Paper. It will replace the Immigration Salary List.
The TSL will apply to occupations requiring RQF Level 3–5 skills, and is designed to provide time-limited access to the Skilled Worker route only where there is clear evidence of persistent shortages and a commitment to reducing reliance on overseas workers.
Home Office Reform to the Skilled Worker Route
The 01 July 2025 Statement of Changes HC 997 (following only a week after the last Statement of Changes) sees skills and salary thresholds rise, overseas recruitment for care workers end, and a reduction of around 180 eligible occupations for new entrants to the Skilled Worker Visa route according to the Explanatory Memorandum, though the official announcement states that this is “more than 100” and that they are “removing 111 eligible occupations”. Whatever the number, a lot of jobs will no longer be able to be sponsored.
Updated Salary Thresholds for Skilled Worker Visa Sponsorship
The general threshold for sponsorship under Option A is increasing from £ 38,700 per annum to £ 41,700 per annum.
Paragraph SW4.4 will require:
- Option A – The applicant’s salary equals or exceeds both:
- £41,700 per year; and
- the going rate for the SOC 2020 occupation code.
- Option B – The applicant has a PhD in a subject relevant to the job and their salary equals or exceeds both:
- £37,500 per year; and
- 90% of the going rate for the SOC 2020 occupation code
- Option C – The applicant has a PhD in a STEM subject relevant to the job and their salary equals or exceeds both:
- £33,400 per year; and
- 80% of the going rate for the SOC 2020 occupation code;
- Option D – The applicant is being sponsored for a job on the Immigration Salary List and their salary equals or exceeds both:
- £33,400 per year; and
- the going rate for the SOC 2020 occupation code
- Option E – The applicant is a new entrant at the start of their career and their salary equals or exceeds both:
- £33,400 per year and
- 70% of the going rate for the SOC 2020 occupation code
- Option F – The applicant’s salary equals or exceeds both:
- £31,300 per year; and
- the going rate for the SOC 2020 occupation code
- Option G -The applicant has a PhD in a subject relevant to the job and their salary equals or exceeds both:
- £28,200 per year; and
- 90% of the going rate for the SOC 2020 occupation code
Temporary Shortage List
- 1243 Managers in logistics
- 1258 Directors in consultancy services
- 3111 Laboratory technicians
- 3112 Electrical and electronics technicians
- 3113 Engineering technicians
- 3114 Building and civil engineering technicians
- 3115 Quality assurance technicians
- 3116 Planning, process and production technicians
- 3120 CAD, drawing and architectural technicians
- 3131 IT operations technicians
- 3132 IT user support technicians
- 3133 Database administrators and web content technicians •
- 3412 Authors, writers and translators
- 3414 Dancers and choreographers
- 3417 Photographers, audio-visual and broadcasting equipment operators
- 3422 Clothing, fashion and accessories designers
- 3429 Design occupations not elsewhere classified – only the following job types:
o Industrial and product designers
o Packaging designers
o Performance make-up artists
o Set designers
o Visual merchandising managers and designers
- 3512 Ship and hovercraft officers
- 3520 Legal associate professionals
- 3532 Insurance underwriters
- 3533 Financial and accounting technicians
- 3541 Estimators, valuers and assessors
- 3544 Data analysts
- 3549 Business associate professionals not elsewhere classified – only the following job types:
o Business support officers
o Business systems analysts
o Contract administrators
o Clinical coders
o Clinical trials administrators
o Research coordinators
- 3552 Business sales executives
- 3554 Advertising and marketing associate professionals
- 3571 Human resources and industrial relations officers
- 3573 Information technology trainers
- 4121 Credit controllers
- 4122 Book-keepers, payroll managers and wages clerks
- 4129 Financial administrative occupations not elsewhere classified – only the following job types:
o Box office assistants
o Grants officers
o Mortgage administrators
o Revenue assistants (excludes National and Local government revenue occupations)
o Treasury assistants
- 4132 Pensions and insurance clerks and assistants
- 5213 Welding trades
- 5214 Pipe fitters
- 5223 Metal working production and maintenance fitters
- 5225 Air-conditioning and refrigeration installers and repairers
- 5231 Vehicle technicians, mechanics and electricians
- 5232 Vehicle body builders and repairers
- 5233 Vehicle paint technicians
- 5235 Boat and ship builders and repairers
- 5241 Electricians and electrical fitters
- 5242 Telecoms and related network installers and repairers
- 5244 Computer system and equipment installers and servicers
- 5245 Security system installers and repairers
- 5249 Electrical and electronic trades not elsewhere classified
- 5311 Steel erectors
- 5315 Plumbers and heating and ventilating installers and repairers
- 5319 Construction and building trades not elsewhere classified – only the following job types:
o Builders
o Divers o Fence erectors
o Industrial climbers
o Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV) operators o Steel fixers and underpinners
- 5322 Floorers and wall tilers
- 5323 Painters and decorators
- 5330 Construction and building trades supervisors
- 8133 Energy plant operatives
