Shortage Occupation List UK – Skilled Worker Visa [2026]

The Shortage Occupation List UK 2026, now officially known as the Immigration Salary List (ISL), highlights the job roles currently in demand across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

This list helps employers sponsor overseas workers for roles facing national skills shortages, including scientists, engineers, healthcare professionals, IT specialists, and construction trades.

Although the Shortage Occupation List UK was replaced by the Immigration Salary List in April 2024, many people (and even employers) still use the original name, which remains the most recognised search term for visa sponsorship jobs in the UK.

If you’re planning to work in Britain, understanding the updated list and how it affects visa eligibility, salary requirements, and job sponsorship, is essential.

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What is Shortage Occupation List UK?

UK employers are currently looking overseas to hire skilled workers to help fill job vacancies across many sectors.

Companies in the UK experienced a shortage of workers in 2024 at an average of 7.4%. The UK has always been able to attract people from all over the world to live, work and study. Over 1.2 million skilled workers arrived in in the year ending June 2024 for long-term immigration visas alone, all of them helping to ease the labour shortage.

The Shortage Occupation List UK was created to make it easier for UK employers to fill key roles that cannot be met by the local workforce. It has since evolved into the Immigration Salary List (ISL), which continues the same purpose but with updated rules and salary thresholds.

If your occupation appears on the ISL, you’ll benefit from:

• A lower minimum salary requirement for visa sponsorship
• A reduced application fee
• In some cases, exemption from the Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS)

Each listed job is identified by a Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) code, which you’ll need when applying for a visa.

2026 Changes to the Shortage Occupation List UK

📈 Minimum Salary Threshold Increase

From 4 April 2024, the minimum salary threshold for new Skilled Worker visa applicants rose from £26,200 to £38,700.
If you’re already in the UK on a Skilled Worker visa and want to extend it or change sponsors, you’re not affected by this increase.

For family visa sponsors, the income requirement also increased from £18,600 to £29,000.

💷 Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) Increase

As of 6 February 2024, the IHS increased from £624 to £1,035 per year.
For students and applicants under 18, it rose from £470 to £776 per year.
Applicants on the Health and Care Worker visa remain exempt.

What jobs are there a shortage of in the UK?

The skills shortage in the UK is across many industries, and employers are struggling to fill these vacancies from British people alone. The jobs most in demand in the UK were last updated in August 2023 from the table below. You can also read our recent article on the Top 13 Skilled Jobs Needed in the UK 2024.

Shortage Occupation List UK (SOL)

The most recent Immigration Salary List is below, it was published on October 2024.

All occupations on this list can be applied through the Skilled Worker or Health and Care Worker visa routes.

You qualify for the lower rate if you are applying for specific roles in the Health and Care Worker visa, or you got a Certificate of Sponsorship before April 2024.

SOC Code	Job Role	Country	Standard rate	Lower rate
1212	Managers and proprietors in forestry, fishing and related services – only “fishing boat masters”	Scotland only	£30,960 (£15.88 per hour)	£25,200 (£12.92 per hour)
2111	Chemical scientists – only jobs in the nuclear industry	Scotland only	£35,200 (£18.05 per hour)	£29,600 (£15.18 per hour)
2112	Biological scientists – all jobs	UK wide	£38,000 (£19.49 per hour)	£28,100 (£14.41 per hour)
2115	Social and humanities scientists – only archaeologists	UK wide	£36,400 (£18.67 per hour)	£25,200 (£12.92 per hour)
2142	Graphic and multimedia designers – all jobs	UK wide	£30,960 (£15.88 per hour)	£25,100 (£12.87 per hour)
3111	Laboratory technicians – only jobs requiring 3 or more years’ related on-the-job experience. This experience must not have been gained through working illegally.	UK wide	£30,960 (£15.88 per hour)	£23,200 (£11.90 per hour)
3212	Pharmaceutical technicians – all jobs	UK wide	£30,960 (£15.88 per hour)	£23,400 (£12.00 per hour)
3411	Artists – all jobs	UK wide	£32,800 (£16.82 per hour)	£25,900 (£13.28 per hour)
3414	Dancers and choreographers – only skilled classical ballet dancers or skilled contemporary dancers who meet the standard required by internationally recognised UK ballet or contemporary dance companies. The company must be endorsed as being internationally recognised by a UK industry body such as the Arts Councils (of England, Scotland or Wales).	UK wide	£31,200 (£16.00 per hour)	£30,000 (£15.38 per hour)
3415	Musicians – only skilled orchestral musicians who are leaders, principals, sub-principals or numbered string positions, and who meet the standard required by internationally recognised UK orchestras. The orchestra must be a full member of the Association of British Orchestras.	UK wide	£35,300 (£18.10 per hour)	£30,400 (£15.59 per hour)
3416	Arts officers, producers and directors – all jobs	UK wide	£37,500 (£19.23 per hour)	£31,300 (£16.05 per hour)
5119	Agriculture and fishing trades not elsewhere classified – only jobs in the fishing industry	UK wide	£30,960 (£15.88 per hour)	£23,200 (£11.90 per hour)
5213	Welding trades – only high integrity pipe welders, where the job requires 3 or more years’ related on-the-job experience. This experience must not have been gained through working illegally.	UK wide	£31,700 (£16.26 per hour)	£26,400 (£13.54 per hour)
5235	Boat and ship builders and repairers – all jobs	Scotland only	£34,100 (£17.49 per hour)	£26,300 (£13.49 per hour)
5312	Stonemasons and related trades – all jobs	UK wide	£32,400  (£16.62 per hour)	£26,200 (£13.44 per hour)
5313	Bricklayers – all jobs	UK wide	£30,960 (£15.88 per hour)	£25,600 (£13.13 per hour)
5314	Roofers, roof tilers and slaters – all jobs	UK wide	£30,960 (£15.88 per hour)	£23,200 (£11.90 per hour)
5316	Carpenters and joiners – all jobs	UK wide	£30,960 (£15.88 per hour)	£25,200 (£12.92 per hour)
5319	Construction and building trades not elsewhere classified – only retrofitters	UK wide	£30,960 (£15.88 per hour)	£25,500 (£13.08 per hour)
6135	Care workers and home carers – all jobs, except jobs with a working location in England are only eligible in this SOC 2020 occupation code where the sponsor holds registration with the Care Quality Commission and is currently carrying on a regulated activity. Private households or individuals (other than sole traders sponsoring someone to work for their business) cannot sponsor Skilled Worker applicants.	UK wide	£30,960 (£15.88 per hour)	£23,200 (£11.90 per hour)
6136	Senior care workers – all jobs, except jobs with a working location in England are only eligible in this SOC 2020 occupation code where the sponsor holds registration with the Care Quality Commission and is currently carrying on a regulated activity.	UK wide	£30,960 (£15.88 per hour)	£23,200 (£11.90 per hour)
6129	Animal care services occupations not elsewhere classified – only racing grooms, stallion handlers, stud grooms, stud hands, stud handlers and work riders	UK wide	£30,960 (£15.88 per hour)	£23,200 (£11.90 per hour)
9119	Fishing and other elementary agriculture occupations not elsewhere classified – only deckhands on large fishing vessels (9 metres and above) where the job requires the worker to have at least 3 years’ full-time experience in using their skills. This experience must not have been gained through working illegally.	UK wide	£30,960 (£15.88 per hour)	£23,200 (£11.90 per hour)

Other Skilled Occupation Lists

If your role doesn’t appear on the ISL, it may fall under one of the other UK occupation lists:

Skilled Worker Occupation List

The largest list, covering more than 200 occupations across technology, finance, management, and engineering. Roles on this list qualify for the Skilled Worker visa, which can lead to permanent residency after five years.

Health and Education Occupation List

This list includes professionals in medicine, social care, and education—such as doctors, nurses, social workers, and teachers of maths, science, or modern languages. These roles are typically sponsored under the Health and Care Worker visa route.

Code	Job Role	Country
2211	Medical practitioners – all jobs	England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland
2212	Psychologists – all jobs	England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland
2213	Pharmacists – all jobs	England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland
2217	Medical radiographers – all jobs (including radiotherapy practitioners / technologists)	England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland
2219	Health professionals not elsewhere classified – all jobs	England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland
2221	Physiotherapists – all jobs	England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland
2222	Occupational therapists – all jobs	England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland
2223	Speech and language therapists – all jobs	England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland
2231	Nurses – all jobs	England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland
2314	Secondary education teaching professionals – only teachers in maths, physics, science (where an element of physics will be taught), computer science and modern foreign languages	England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland
2314	Secondary education teaching professionals – only teachers in Gaelic	Scotland only
2315	Primary and nursery education teaching professionals – only Gaelic medium teachers	Scotland only
2442	Social workers – all jobs	England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland
3213	Paramedics – all jobs	England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland
6141	Nursing auxiliaries and assistants – all jobs	England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland

Unskilled Shortage Occupation List UK

If your job is not listed on any of these routes, sponsorship may not be available. However, other visas such as the Youth Mobility Scheme or Graduate visa allow you to work in the UK without sponsorship. Check out the UK Work Visas without Job Offer section below.

UK Work Visa Options

How to apply for UK Shortage Occupation List? Depending on your personal circumstances such as age, nationality, SOC code and education. Will decide which UK work visa is correct for you.

Eligibility varies depending on your circumstances and the type of visa, but there are some general rules. You will have to be on one of the occupations lists linked to that visa, for example to apply for the Scale-Up visa it must on the Scale-Up Occupation List.

To apply for a job in the National Health Service (NHS) or healthcare in general. You would apply through the Health and Care Worker visa as this would relate to your job role. You would find the SOC code for your role on the Healthcare and Education Occupations List.

• You must work for an employer that has been approved for a sponsor license.
• Salary must meet a minimum threshold for that job role.
• Pass an English language test.

UK Work Visas with Job Sponsorship

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UK Work Visas without Job Offer

Can a Job on the Shortage Occupation List Lead to Residency?

Yes, jobs listed on the Shortage Occupation List UK (now ISL) can lead to permanent residency.
If you work in the UK for five years under a qualifying visa—such as the Skilled Worker or Health and Care Worker visa—you can apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR).

After holding ILR for one year, you can apply for British citizenship.

The three main steps are:

1. Live and work in the UK for five years on a qualifying visa.
2. Apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR).
3. Apply for British citizenship through naturalisation.

❓ Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

📘 What is the Shortage Occupation List UK in 2026?
It’s now called the Immigration Salary List (ISL). It highlights roles with national skills shortages and sets adjusted salary rules for sponsorship under the Skilled Worker route.

🔁 Why do people still say “Shortage Occupation List” if it’s the ISL?
Because the old term is widely recognised and still used in searches.

💼 Does being on the ISL make sponsorship easier?
Yes. Roles on the ISL can benefit from lower salary thresholds (or “lower rates”) and reduced visa fees compared with standard Skilled Worker terms.

💷 What changed with salaries and fees?
From 4 April 2024, the Skilled Worker general threshold rose to £38,700 (with ISL exceptions/lower rates). The Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) increased to £1,035/year on 6 Feb 2024 (students/under-18: £776). Health & Care Worker visa holders are exempt from IHS.

🧾 What’s a SOC code and why do I need it?
Your occupation’s Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) code determines eligibility, salary thresholds and whether it appears on the ISL or other lists. You’ll use it throughout the sponsorship and visa process.

📍 Are some ISL roles UK-wide and others regional?
Yes. Many roles are UK-wide, but a few are Scotland-only (e.g., specific fishing or nuclear roles). Always check the country column in the list.

🧑‍⚕️ Which visas use the ISL?
Primarily the Skilled Worker visa. Health & Care roles may be sponsored under the Health and Care Worker visa, which has separate IHS rules and some distinct salary provisions.

⏳ Is the ISL fixed, or does it change?
It’s updated periodically (e.g., the latest version in your article references October 2024). Roles can be added or removed, and salary levels can change—always check the most recent list.

🧠 What if my job isn’t on the ISL?
You might still qualify via the Skilled Worker Occupation List or Health & Education Occupations List if your role is eligible and meets the going rate. If sponsorship isn’t possible, consider Youth Mobility, Graduate, BNO, or UK Ancestry (no sponsorship required).

🏠 Can ISL jobs lead to settlement and citizenship?
Yes. Time on a qualifying sponsored visa typically counts toward 5 years for Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR), followed by British citizenship (subject to meeting all requirements).

👨‍👩‍👧 Can dependants come on a Skilled Worker visa?
Generally yes (partner and children), if you meet maintenance and eligibility rules. Note: dependant rules differ for some routes (e.g., recent changes for certain care roles in England).

🔎 How do I check if an employer can sponsor me?
Look them up on the Home Office Register of Licensed Sponsors. Job ads often state “visa sponsorship available,” but always verify against the official register.

Have questions or want help choosing the right visa? Subscribe or explore more articles on UK visas and immigration tips.

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