Shortage occupation list vs immigration salary list
The Shortage Occupation List, which preceded today’s Immigration Salary List (ISL), was first introduced in 2008 under the UK’s former Points-Based System. It identified roles facing acute shortages within the domestic labour market, allowing licensed sponsors to recruit overseas talent for these roles at a lower salary threshold. While the list offered employers greater flexibility, it carried notable drawbacks. Workers placed in shortage occupations were often paid below the market rate, leaving them exposed to wage suppression, financial instability, and in some cases, exploitation.
Recognising these imbalances, the Home Office commissioned the Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) to conduct a comprehensive review of the Shortage Occupation List. The MAC’s findings were clear: significant reform—or complete abolition—was necessary.
Transition to the Immigration Salary List (ISL)
In December 2023, the Government announced a sweeping increase in the general salary threshold for Skilled Workers—from £26,200 to £38,700 per annum—effective April 2024. This announcement coincided with the official replacement of the Shortage Occupation List by the Immigration Salary List (ISL). It is important not to confuse the ISL with the more limited Temporary Shortage List, which was separately introduced following the Government’s 2025 White Paper.
Unlike its predecessor, the ISL no longer offers a discount on the occupation-specific ‘going rate’. Instead, it provides a concession solely against the general salary threshold. Furthermore, the ISL encompasses a much narrower selection of occupations, significantly limiting its scope.
Nonetheless, despite its reduced coverage, the ISL’s relevance persists. Since the July 2025 reforms elevated the minimum eligible skill level from RQF Level 3 to Level 6, the ISL now plays a critical role in preserving sponsorship eligibility for certain mid-level professional roles that would otherwise fall outside the Skilled Worker route.
In the following sections, we examine the ISL’s purpose, operation, benefits, and the implications for both employers and overseas workers. The latest UK Immigration Salary List 2025 is included at the end of this article.
The immigration salary list explained
At its core, the ISL is a defined list of occupations that remain eligible for sponsorship under the Skilled Worker route, where a reduced general salary threshold applies. Occupations appearing on the ISL enable employers to hire overseas candidates on salaries below the standard general threshold, provided the role still meets the occupation-specific rate.
This mechanism effectively facilitates recruitment for essential but modestly paid roles, ensuring the UK labour market retains critical talent pipelines while maintaining a fair salary floor.
However, the Government’s May 2025 White Paper, Restoring Control Over the Immigration System, confirmed that both the Immigration Salary List and the Temporary Shortage List will eventually be abolished. The stated rationale is to ensure that “international recruitment is never a cheap alternative to the settled workforce.”
government’s position on the immigration salary list
The Skilled Worker Immigration Salary List was formally embedded into law under Appendix Immigration Salary List of the Immigration Rules on 4 April 2024.
According to the Explanatory Memorandum accompanying Statement of Changes HC 590 (presented to Parliament on 14 March 2024), the ISL identifies “occupations where the Government considers it sensible to offer a discounted salary threshold,” as opposed to serving as a comprehensive catalogue of shortage roles.
This marks a conceptual shift: the ISL is not intended to identify labour shortages, but to reflect occupations where the Government deems limited salary flexibility appropriate.
The White Paper reinforces this position. It states that the Government no longer considers discounted salary thresholds for migrants to be compatible with the new immigration system. The MAC has been tasked with reviewing salary levels to ensure they align with the principle that international recruitment should complement, not undercut, domestic employment standards.
Immigration salary list salary thresholds explained
Under the Skilled Worker route, employers must pay whichever is higher of:
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The general salary threshold
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The occupation-specific threshold (or “going rate”) for the SOC 2020 occupation code.
For jobs listed on the Immigration Salary List, the general salary threshold is set at 80% of the standard Skilled Worker minimum.
This means that:
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The standard general threshold is £41,700;
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The ISL threshold is £33,400 per annum for Skilled Workers; and
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For Health and Care Workers (non-pay-scale roles), the ISL threshold is £25,000.
Despite the discount, employers must still meet or exceed the relevant occupation-specific threshold. There is no longer any reduction to the going rate, meaning that the effective discount may be substantially less than 20%.
Example: An archaeologist has a going rate of £40,400. Although the ISL permits a reduced general threshold of £33,400, the employer must still pay the higher figure—£40,400—to satisfy the going-rate condition. Thus, in practical terms, the discount is closer to 4%.
Summary:
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Skilled Worker route: For occupations on the Immigration Salary List, applicants must be paid a general salary threshold of £33,400 (rather than £41,700) or the occupation-specific threshold / going rate, which is higher.
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Health and Care Worker visa: For occupations on the Immigration Salary List, applicants must be paid a general salary threshold of £25,000 or the occupation-specific threshold / going rate, which is higher.
Benefits of the immigration salary list
The ISL’s most tangible advantage lies in its ability to maintain sponsorship eligibility for certain roles that might otherwise have been excluded under the heightened skill and salary thresholds. Employers can therefore continue to sponsor workers in occupations essential to their operations, albeit under stricter pay compliance.
Additionally, occupations appearing on the ISL benefit from slightly reduced visa application fees—approximately £179 less for Certificates of Sponsorship under three years, and £369 less for longer durations.
However, the Migration Advisory Committee has observed that these savings are marginal when compared with broader increases in Skilled Worker salaries and the Immigration Health Surcharge.
Health and Care Worker roles already enjoy reduced visa fees and therefore derive minimal additional benefit from ISL inclusion.
Immigration salary list: benefits for employers and workers
When an occupation is included on the ISL, this designation must be explicitly stated in the worker’s Certificate of Sponsorship. Employers must also confirm compliance with any additional eligibility criteria specified in Appendix Immigration Salary List.
Certain occupations are subject to highly specific requirements. For example, occupation code 3414 – Dancers and choreographers applies solely to professional ballet or contemporary dancers performing with internationally recognised UK companies endorsed by national arts councils.
Some ISL occupations are regional rather than national. For instance, chemical scientists in the nuclear industry qualify only under the Scottish ISL. The Home Office determines geographic eligibility based on the employee’s “working at” address.
Salary figures in the ISL assume a 37.5-hour work week and must be pro-rated accordingly for different patterns. Unlike under the old Tier 2 (General) system, there is no fixed minimum weekly hour requirement—provided the overall salary meets both the general threshold and the going rate after pro-rating.
How to choose the right soc code for skilled worker sponsorship
Accurate SOC code selection is crucial for sponsors. Employers must ensure that the role genuinely corresponds with the occupational classification in Appendix Skilled Occupations or Appendix Immigration Salary List.
The appropriate SOC code is determined by the actual job description and duties—not the job title. Employers can cross-reference their role with the Office for National Statistics’ CASCOT tool or official occupation guidance to identify the correct match.
Misclassification can have serious consequences. If the Home Office identifies discrepancies suggesting an incorrect SOC code or non-genuine vacancy, it may initiate a compliance visit, suspend the sponsor licence, or even refuse the worker’s visa.
UK immigration salary list 2025
As of October 2025, the current UK Immigration Salary List includes the following occupations, with specific notes on regional application:
Fishing
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1212 Fishing boat masters (Scotland only)
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5119 Fishing trades not elsewhere classified (UK-wide)
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9119 Deckhands on large vessels (UK-wide; requires 3 years’ full-time experience)
Care
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1232 Residential, day and domiciliary care managers and proprietors (UK-wide)
Science / Engineering
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2111 Chemical scientists in the nuclear industry (Scotland only)
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2112 Biological scientists (UK-wide)
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2115 Archaeologists (UK-wide)
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3111 Laboratory technicians – 3+ years’ experience required (UK-wide)
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3212 Pharmaceutical technicians (UK-wide)
Creative Sector
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2142 Graphic and multimedia designers (UK-wide)
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3411 Artists (UK-wide)
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3414 Dancers and choreographers – professional level only (UK-wide)
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3415 Musicians – orchestral positions only (UK-wide)
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3416 Arts officers, producers and directors (UK-wide)
Construction
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5213 High integrity pipe welders – 3+ years’ experience (UK-wide)
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5235 Boat and ship builders and repairers (Scotland only)
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5312 Stonemasons (UK-wide)
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5313 Bricklayers (UK-wide)
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5314 Roofers, roof tilers and slaters (UK-wide)
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5316 Carpenters and joiners (UK-wide)
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5319 Retrofitters (UK-wide)
Health and Care
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6131 Nursing auxiliaries and assistants (UK-wide; only in nursing environments)
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6135 Care workers and home carers (UK-wide)
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6136 Senior care workers (UK-wide)
Other Trades
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6129 Racing grooms, stallion handlers, stud hands, and work riders (UK-wide)
How to get a sponsor licence for immigration salary list roles
Employers wishing to sponsor workers for roles on the ISL—or any eligible occupation—must hold a valid sponsor licence under the relevant category. Depending on the business type and recruitment needs, this may fall under:
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Skilled Worker Sponsor Licence
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Health and Care Worker Sponsor Licence
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Global Business Mobility (GBM) Licence
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Scale-up Sponsor Licence
Each licence type carries its own set of compliance obligations, documentation requirements, and eligibility criteria.
How Lawsentis can assist
At LawSentis, our immigration experts provide end-to-end guidance for both employers and skilled professionals navigating the evolving UK sponsorship framework. Whether you are seeking to:
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Obtain or renew a sponsor licence,
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Identify the correct SOC code and salary level for your role,
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Assess eligibility under the Immigration Salary List, or
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Strategically plan workforce recruitment within the Skilled Worker or Health & Care routes —
Our team delivers precise legal analysis, tailored compliance strategies, and hands-on support throughout every stage of the process.
For strategic immigration advice aligned with the latest Home Office policy shifts, contact LawSentis today to arrange a confidential consultation.