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Shortage Occupation List 2023

Jan 26, 2023

The shortage occupation list is a list of skilled occupations that the UK job market is unable to fill adequately.

If companies are unable to get the skills they need to fulfil a role within their workforce, they may look to sponsor an overseas individual with the relevant skills under the skilled worker route.

To encourage companies to access the Universal job market the government has relaxed certain eligibility criteria under the skills shortage route. For example, sponsors may only need to pay 80% of the usual going rate for the listed occupations. Therefore, when sponsoring an individual from overseas as a Skilled Worker check if the job falls on the shortage occupation list first as this may reduce the overall cost of hiring the overseas worker.If the job you are hiring for falls on the list and you have identified an individual from overseas, you will need to assign a certificate of sponsorship to the individual ensuring that you have ticked the box and confirmed the role is on the shortage occupation list If you do not tick the relevant box, the UKVI may delay your application and request further information.

The Skills Shortage List frequently changes due to the changing needs of the UK Economy. It is worth reviewing on a regular basis so that you can prepare your recruitment budget accurately.

For advice on hiring someone on the Shortage list, timelines and processes please contact our Skilled Worker Sponsorship Team on 0207 836 8505.

Occupation Code  Job types included on the shortage occupations list   Areas of the UK where there is a shortage  Annual Salary (80% of going rate) 
1181 Health services and public health managers and directors – all jobs England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland 80% of going rate: £30,720 (£15.15 per hour)
1242 Residential, day and domiciliary care managers and proprietors – all jobs England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland 80% of going rate: £21,360 (£10.53 per hour)
2111 Chemical scientists – only jobs in the nuclear industry Scotland only 80% of going rate: £21,360(£10.53 per hour)
2112 Biological scientists and biochemists – all jobs England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland 80% of going rate: £23,760(£11.72 per hour)
2113 Physical scientists – only the following jobs in the construction-related ground engineering industry: engineering geologist hydrogeologist geophysicist England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland 80% of going rate: £29,200(£14.40 per hour)
2113 Physical scientists – only the following jobs in the oil and gas industry: geophysicist geoscientist geologist geochemist technical services manager in the decommissioning and waste areas of the nuclear industry senior resource geologist and staff geologist in the mining sector England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland 80% of going rate: £29,200(£14.40 per hour)
2114 Social and humanities scientists – only archaeologists England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland 80% of going rate: £20,720(£10.22 per hour)
2121 Civil engineers – all jobs England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland 80% of going rate: £28,000(£13.81 per hour)
2122 Mechanical engineers – all jobs England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland 80% of going rate: £26,720(£13.18 per hour)
2123 Electrical engineers – all jobs England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland 80% of going rate: £29,600(£14.60 per hour)
2124 Electronics engineers – all jobs England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland 80% of going rate: £27,760(£13.69 per hour)
2126 Design and development engineers – all jobs England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland 80% of going rate: £27,280(£13.45 per hour)
2127 Production and process engineers – all jobs England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland 80% of going rate: £26,480(£13.06 per hour)
2129 Engineering professionals not elsewhere classified – all jobs England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland 80% of going rate: £26,160(£12.90 per hour)
2135 IT business analysts, architects and systems designers – all jobs England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland 80% of going rate: £29,280(£14.44 per hour)
2136 Programmers and software development professionals – all jobs England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland 80% of going rate: £26,640(£13.14 per hour)
2137 Web design and development professionals – all jobs England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland 80% of going rate: £20,800(£10.26 per hour)
2139 Information technology and communications professionals not elsewhere classified – only cyber security specialists England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland 80% of going rate: £25,440(£12.54 per hour)
2216 Veterinarians – all jobs England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland 80% of going rate: £26,000(£12.82 per hour)
2425 Actuaries, economists and statisticians – only bio-informaticians and informaticians England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland 80% of going rate: £26,240(£12.94 per hour)
2431 Architects – all jobs England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland 80% of going rate: £28,000(£13.81 per hour)
2461 Quality control and planning engineers – all jobs England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland 80% of going rate: £24,400(£12.03 per hour)
3111 Laboratory technicians – all jobs England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland 80% of going rate: £14,560 (£7.18 per hour)
3411 Artists – all jobs England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland 80% of going rate: £16,800(£8.28 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). England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland 80% of going rate: £23,840(£11.76 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 a full member of the Association of British Orchestras. England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland 80% of going rate: £22,000 (£10.85 per hour)
3416 Arts officers, producers and directors – all jobs England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland 80% of going rate: £24,000(£11.83 per hour)
3421 Graphic designers – all jobs England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland 80% of going rate: £18,800(£9.27 per hour)
5251 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 illegal working. England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland 80% of going rate: £18,240(£8.99 per hour)
6145 Care workers and home carers – private households or individuals (other than sole traders sponsoring someone to work for their business) cannot sponsor Skilled Worker applicants England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland No going rate – the salary must be at least £20,480 per year or £10.10 per hour
6146 Senior care workers – all jobs England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland 80% of going rate: £13,520 (£6.67 per hour)

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