Shortage Occupation List

In This Article

• What was the Shortage Occupation List?
• How the SOL discount worked
• Which roles were on the SOL?
• Why was it abolished?
• What replaced it — the Immigration Salary List
• Key differences: SOL vs ISL
• Impact on workers and employers
• Frequently asked questions
• Related terms

What Was the Shortage Occupation List?

The Shortage Occupation List was a list of specific job roles — identified by the Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) through evidence-based reviews — where the UK faced genuine shortages of domestic workers. Employers sponsoring overseas workers in these roles could pay less than the standard going rate, making it cheaper to hire internationally for hard-to-fill positions.

The SOL existed in various forms from 2008 under the Tier 2 system, and continued into the Skilled Worker era until April 2024.

How the SOL Discount Worked

Workers sponsored in SOL roles benefited from:

1. 20% discount on the going rate — the employer only needed to pay 80% of the SOC code's going rate
2. Reduced salary floor — critically, the SOL could allow workers to be paid below the general salary threshold (then £26,200, later £38,700), which the Immigration Salary List replacement cannot
3. Reduced visa application fee — SOL roles attracted a lower visa fee

This combination made SOL-listed roles significantly cheaper for both workers and employers to sponsor, and was particularly important in sectors like healthcare and hospitality where salaries were often below the general threshold.

Which Roles Were on the SOL?

The SOL was dynamic — the MAC reviewed it periodically and added or removed occupations based on labour market evidence. At various points the list included:

• Nurses (adult and mental health)
• Secondary school teachers (maths, physics, computing, languages)
• Civil engineers
• Vets
• Software developers (at various points)
• Chefs and head chefs
• Radiographers
• Social workers

The full historic SOL is archived on GOV.UK. However, from April 2024 it is no longer operative — the Immigration Salary List is the current equivalent.

Why Was It Abolished?

The MAC's January 2024 review recommended abolishing the SOL for several reasons:

1. Rising salary thresholds. The general threshold was rising to £38,700 and then £41,700 — making the SOL's below-threshold exemption increasingly incompatible with the government's stated goal of reducing net migration.
2. Evidence challenges. Identifying genuine "shortage" was methodologically difficult. Some roles appeared on the list not because of true shortage but because of poor domestic pay and conditions.
3. Simplification. The dual system (general threshold + SOL discount + reduced fee) was complex for employers to navigate.
4. Policy direction. The government wanted to increase wages for domestic workers rather than continue subsidising below-threshold international recruitment.

What Replaced It — the Immigration Salary List

The Immigration Salary List (ISL) took effect on 4 April 2024. It offers:

• A 20% discount on the going rate for listed roles
• But no reduction below the general threshold (£41,700)
• And no reduced visa fee

Key Differences: SOL vs ISL

Impact on Workers and Employers

Workers: Those who were sponsored under the SOL — particularly nurses, care workers, and hospitality staff — found their situations significantly changed from April 2024. Many roles that previously qualified for below-threshold salaries no longer do. This has contributed to a sharp decline in social care and hospitality sector sponsorship.

Employers: Care homes and hospitality businesses that relied on the SOL discount to sponsor overseas workers at lower salaries face much higher mandatory pay rates from 2024 onwards — or must find domestic candidates.

Job seekers: If you were searching for SOL roles specifically, be aware the framework no longer exists. Use the current Immigration Salary List to identify roles with a salary discount.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are my rights affected if I was sponsored under a SOL role?

If you were already sponsored before April 2024 under a SOL role, your existing leave continues as normal. At renewal, your salary will need to meet the new thresholds in place at the time of renewal — the SOL terms no longer apply.

Can I still search for "Shortage Occupation List" roles?

The list no longer exists. Search for Immigration Salary List occupations to find roles with a salary discount under the current rules.

Why were care workers removed from the shortage category?

The MAC found that the care sector's reliance on overseas workers was driven by low domestic pay rather than a genuine shortage of available workers. The recommendation was that raising domestic wages was a better solution than perpetuating below-threshold international recruitment.

Is there still a list of jobs in shortage in the UK?

The MAC publishes periodic reports on labour market shortages. The Immigration Salary List and Temporary Shortage List partially serve this function, though with a narrower scope than the old SOL.

Related Terms

• Immigration Salary List
• Going Rate
• Skilled Worker Visa
• Tier 2 Visa

Find roles on the Immigration Salary List and other visa-sponsored positions from UK licensed employers. Search jobs →