What is the UK shortage occupation list? Yearly, the UK government always creates a list of jobs that are in short supply. In order to find a solution to the shortage, the government creates a list known as the “shortage occupation.” This list contains occupations that UK employers that are struggling to recruit workers within the country.
In this article, I will be giving detailed guidelines on how foreigners can get a work visa in the UK. Presently, there are tons of occupations in the UK that urgently need willing foreigners to come and take up the positions.
There are over 20 industrial sectors that are experiencing worker shortages, which include care workers, graphic designers, artists, laboratory technicians, and more. That is why the Shortage Occupation List in the UK is very vital, so foreigners can look up jobs or skills that they can apply for.
Meanwhile, Foreigners can easily fill the vacancies under a Skilled Worker Visa. This means that foreigners can work in the UK with funded visa sponsorship by their employers. However, the employee must meet all the requirements and qualifications for the job. Also, jobs on the SOL can pay 80% of the job’s going rate in order to get a Skilled Worker Visa.
What is the UK Shortage Occupation List?
Yearly, the UK government makes a list of jobs that are in short supply of workers. The Shortage Occupation List (SOL) contains the list of occupations that are in short supply of workers. In order to find a solution for the short supply of workers, the UK government makes a shortage occupation list where UK employers struggle to find workers within the UK.
So, foreign workers can fill the vacancies under a skilled worker visa. However, the skill shortage occupation list (SOL) is frequently updated by the Migration Advisory Committee (MAC). Consequently, MAC creates a list of occupations based on some criteria.
Besides, occupations on the SOL benefit UK employers. This is because employers can hire foreign workers with lower salary thresholds, while employees who apply for jobs on the Shortage Occupation List enjoy fewer visa application fees.
How Does the UK Shortage Occupation List Work?
The SOL works in a simple and lenient way for foreign workers. Based on the new UK Points-Based System, foreign workers are evaluated based on a number of factors, which include, English language proficiency, job skill level, and salary rate.
In order to qualify for a Skilled Worker Visa, the applicant must earn 70 points. Also, employers are exempted from the Resident Labor Market Test (RLMT). This means that UK employers don’t have to advertise vacancies to job seekers in the UK.
UK Shortage Occupation List 2022
The long-awaited Shortage occupation list for 2022 is out. Foreign workers who are very interested in working in the UK can check out the list to find suitable jobs that suit their skills. Keep in mind that the SOL visa application is lenient compared to finding a visa sponsorship job in the UK. Below, is the 2022 Shortage Occupation List.
| Shortage Occupation List | Occupation code | Annual salary (80%) of going rate) |
| 1242 | Residential, day, and domiciliary care managers and proprietors | 80% of going rate (£10.53 per hour) £21,360 |
| 1181 | Health services and public health managers and directors | 80% of going rate (£15.15 per hour) £30,720 |
| 2111 | Chemical scientist | 80% of going rate (£10.53 per hour) £21,360 |
| 2113 | Physical scientist but only jobs in construction-related ground engineering industry: engineering geologist, hydrogeologist, geophysicist. | 80% of going rate (£14.40 per hour) £29,200 |
| 2112 | Biological scientist and biochemist | 80% of the going rate (£11.72 per hour) £23,760. |
| 2113 | Physical scientists but only jobs in the oil and gas industry; geoscientist, geologist, geophysicist, geochemist, technical service manager in decommissioning and waste areas of the nuclear industry senior resource geologist, and staff geologist in the mining sector | 80% of the going rate (£14.40 per hour) £29,200 |
| 2114 | Humanities and Social scientists only archaeologists | 80% of going rate (£10.22 per hour) £20,720 |
| 2122 | Mechanical engineers | 80% of going rate (£13.18) £26,720. |
| 2123 | Electrical Engineers | 80% of going rate (£14.60 per hour) |
| 2124 | Electronics engineer | 80% of going rate (£13.69 per hour) £27,760 |
| 2126 | Design and Development engineers | 80% of going rate (£13.45) £27,280 |
| 2127 | Production and process engineers | 80% of going rate (£13.06 per hour) £26,480 |
| 2129 | Engineering professionals not elsewhere classified | 80% of going rate (£12.90 per hour) £26,160 |
How to Apply for a Job on the UK Shortage Occupation List
Keep in mind that applying for a job on the SOL is not as intimidating as it seems. However, before applying for one, you must first apply for a UK Skilled Worker Visa. Also, to apply for a skilled worker visa, you need to meet specific requirements such as:
- Applicant must have a valid passport
- You must receive an employment offer from a UK employer with a sponsorship license.
- Your employer must give you a certificate of sponsorship. (The sponsorship letter contains details about the employment offered and it must be issued not more than 3 months before you applied for your visa)
- You must have English proficiency (if you are not from an English-speaking country, you must have a Level B1 or higher in the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages)
- You must be financially stable to take of yourself in the UK at least £1,270.
- A criminal record certificate
- You must have a clear Tuberculosis test result letter.
Once you have the above-listed documents, you can apply for your skilled worker visa online. Meanwhile, if your spouse or children want to join you in the UK, they will have to file separately.
Keep in mind that during your online application, you will have to confirm your identity. Also, apply for your visa three months before the start date of your new job. Meanwhile, foreigners will receive a response three weeks after the application is received.