The Immigration Salary List April 2024
The immigration salary list replaced the shortage occupation list on 4 April 2024.
Our Immigration Solicitors look at the jobs that ‘’made the grade’’ and explain what it means if a job has made it onto the immigration salary list.
UK Online and London-Based Immigration Solicitors and Sponsorship Licence Lawyers
For business immigration, sponsor licence, and employment law advice call OTS Solicitors on 0203 959 9123 or contact us online.
The advent of the immigration salary list
One thing that Sponsorship Licence Lawyers will say is that the immigration salary list is short. That’s because only 23 occupations made it onto the list. Given the extent of the UK skill shortage, many sponsor licence holders believe the list is too short. However, Business Immigration Solicitors have responded by saying that as the government decided to increase the general salary threshold to £38,700 for most Skilled Worker Visa jobs, there is little point in keeping jobs on the list when they no longer qualify for a Work Visa.
The advantage of a job being included on the immigration salary list
If the job you are recruiting to fill with a Skilled Worker Visa applicant is one of the 23 jobs on the immigration salary list your business has the advantage of being able to offer the Skilled Worker Visa applicant sponsored employment at a salary that is 80% of the general minimum salary threshold of £38,700 or £29,000 (so the gross annual salary can be £30,960 for the Skilled Worker Visa or £23,200 for the Health and Care Worker Visa if the job is on the immigration salary list).
The concession is not as great as it first appears. Under the old shortage occupation list system, a sponsor licence holder could discount the salary on offer by 20% of the minimum salary threshold or 20% of the going rate for the job.
Under the immigration salary list rules, a business can only discount the general minimum salary threshold by 20% - the business cannot discount the going rate for the job. The minimum salary threshold is the higher of the 20% discounted general salary threshold or the full going rate.
If key personnel had hoped for a simpler revised system, then sadly, they probably do not think that the immigration salary list is the answer.
The 23 jobs on the immigration salary list
The 23 jobs on the list range from occupations in the healthcare sector to construction to creative jobs.
The jobs are:
| Standard occupational classification code | Job description | Additional notes | |
| 1 | 6135 | Care workers and home carers | all jobs (UK-wide) but if the working location is in England a sponsor licence holder can only recruit if the business is registered with the Care Quality Commission (CQC) and the business is currently carrying out a regulated activity |
| 2 | 6136 | Senior care workers | all jobs (UK-wide) but if the working location is in England a sponsor licence holder can only recruit if they are registered with the CQC and the business is currently carrying out a regulated activity |
| 3 | 1212 | Managers and proprietors in forestry, fishing and related services | only applies to fishing boat masters (Scotland only) |
| 4 | 2111 | Chemical scientists | limited to jobs in the nuclear industry (Scotland only) |
| 5 | 2112 | Biological scientists
|
all jobs (UK-wide) |
| 6 | 2115 | Social and humanities scientists | only archaeologists (UK-wide) |
| 7 | 2142 | Graphic and multimedia designers | all jobs (UK-wide) |
| 8 | 3111 | Laboratory technicians
|
only jobs requiring 3 or more years of related on the job experience (UK-wide) |
| 9 | 3212 | Pharmaceutical technicians | all jobs (UK-wide) |
| 10 | 3411 | Artists | all jobs (UK-wide) |
| 11 | 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 (UK-wide) |
| 12 | 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 (UK-wide)
|
| 13 | 3416 | Arts officers, producers and directors | all jobs (UK-wide) |
| 14 | 5119 | Agriculture and fishing trades not elsewhere classified
|
only jobs in the fishing industry (UK-wide) |
| 15 | 5213 | Welding trades | only high-integrity pipe welders where the job requires 3 or more years of related on-the-job experience (UK-wide) |
| 16 | 5235 | Boat and ship builders and repairers | all jobs (Scotland only) |
| 17 | 5312 | Stonemasons and related trades
|
all jobs (UK-wide) |
| 18 | 5313 | Bricklayers | all jobs (UK-wide) |
| 19 | 5314 | Roofers, roof tilers and slaters | all jobs (UK-wide) |
| 20 | 5316 | Carpenters and joiners | all jobs (UK-wide) |
| 21 | 5319 | Construction and building trades not elsewhere classified | only retrofitters (UK-wide) |
| 22 | 6129 | Animal care services occupations not elsewhere classified | only racing grooms, stallion handlers, stud grooms, stud hands, stud handlers and work riders (UK-wide) |
| 23 | 9119 | Fishing and other elementary agriculture occupations not elsewhere classified
|
only deckhands on large fishing vessels. These vessels are defined as 9 metres and above. The job must require the worker to have at least 3 years of full-time experience (UK-wide) |
The immigration salary list is being reviewed
If sponsor licence holders do not think there has been enough change, then there is more on the way. That is because the Migration Advisory Committee has said it will carry out a further review of the immigration salary list.
Sponsorship Licence Lawyers for all your sponsor licence needs
At OTS Solicitors we have a specialist team of Business Immigration Lawyers led by Sponsorship Licence Lawyer and partner, Hans Sok Appadu.
We will support you with all your sponsor licence, business immigration and employment law needs ranging from your first sponsor licence application to providing a sponsor licence management service for a fixed retainer and bespoke training for your key personnel. Our Employment Solicitors provide joined-up employment and immigration legal advice tailored to your business sector and needs.
UK Online and London-Based Immigration Solicitors and Sponsorship Licence Lawyers
For business immigration, sponsor licence, and employment law advice call OTS Solicitors on 0203 959 9123 or contact us online.
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