In the UK, industries such as technology, banking, and medical could experience a scarcity of highly qualified personnel.

The UK is one of the top five nations experiencing a severe talent shortage, along with New Zealand, Portugal, Canada, and Switzerland, according to a research released by the recruitment business Hays.

According to the report, the UK must solve its skills shortages immediately or face slipping behind its overseas counterparts.

“To ensure the UK can continue to compete on the global stage, it needs a steady supply of talent with the right skills,” said Nigel Kirkham, the chief executive of enterprise solutions at Hays.

It’s speculated that Brexit could have impacted the number of skilled workers in the UK, making it harder for skilled workers to come from Europe.

It’s not impossible to recruit from abroad, thanks to the Skilled Worker Visa. Here’s a closer look at what the skilled worker visa is.

What is a Skilled Worker Visa?

A Skilled Worker Visa was introduced in 2020, allowing employers to recruit skilled workers from outside the UK to fill vacancies and also allowing migrants to bring their families to the UK.

Jobs on the Skilled Worker Visa list require 80 per cent of the route’s usual minimum rate to qualify for a Skilled Worker or Health and Care Worker visa, based on a 37.5-hour working week.

Which sectors are on the shortage list?

The UK Shortage Occupation List (SOL) is a list of occupations in the UK that are deemed to be in short supply.

The list is part of the UK Immigration Rules and is used to make it easier for employers to sponsor skilled non-UK workers under the Skilled Worker visa.

There are specific jobs within several sectors, as listed below.

Health and Care

Health services and public health managers and directors

Residential, day and domiciliary care managers and proprietors

Senior care workers

Science/ Engineering

Chemical scientists in the nuclear industry

Biological scientists and biochemists

Physical scientists in the construction-related ground engineering industry, limited to engineering geologist, hydrogeologist, and geophysicist

Physical scientists in the oil and gas industry, with some specific limitations

Civil engineers

Mechanical engineers

Electrical engineers

Electronics engineers

Design and development engineers

Production and process engineers

Engineering professionals not elsewhere classified

Quality control and planning engineers

Construction

Bricklayers and masons

Roofers, roof tilers and slaters

Carpenters and joiners

Construction and building trades not elsewhere classified

Plasterers (including dryliners)

IT

IT business analysts, architects and systems designers

Programmers and software development professionals

Web design and development professionals

Information technology and communications professionals not elsewhere classified, limited to cyber security specialists

Fishing

Agriculture and fishing trades not elsewhere classified

Deckhands on large fishing vessels (nine metres and above) where the job requires the worker to have at least 3 years’ full-time experience in using their skills

Professional Services/Medicine/ Other Trades

Veterinarians

Actuaries, economists and statisticians, limited to

Bio-informaticians

Informaticians

Architects

Laboratory technicians

Welding trades – only high integrity pipe welders, where the job requires three or more years’ related on-the-job experience

Creative Sector

Artists

Dancers and choreographers

Some musicians

Arts officers, producers and directors

Graphic designers

Medicine

Medical practitioners

Psychologists

Pharmacists

Medical radiographers – including radiotherapy practitioners/ technologists)

Health professionals not elsewhere classified

Nurses

Paramedics

Nursing auxiliaries and assistants

Therapy

Physiotherapists

Occupational therapists

Speech and language therapists

Education/Professional Services

Secondary education teaching professionals – only teachers in maths, physics, science (where an element of physics will be taught), computer science and modern foreign languages

Secondary education teaching professionals – only teachers in Gaelic

Primary and nursery education teaching professionals – only Gaelic medium teachers

Social workers

Why is the UK facing a skilled worker shortage?

While immigration and Brexit are thought to be playing a role in the skilled worker shortage, the high cost of living in the UK is also thought to play a role.

Many people cannot afford to pay for education or training, or take roles with low or no pay, as they would need to learn many skilled worker roles.

What’s more, the UK has an aging population, with 19.17 per cent of the UK population aged over 65 years old as of 2022. That means nearly a fifth of the UK’s population is of retirement age, also representing a diminished workforce.