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ARTICLE · 22 JANUARY 2026

From SOL To TSL: A Complete Guide To UK Labour Shortage Lists

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The UK's approach to addressing labour shortages through immigration has seen significant shifts. Three key frameworks have shaped this landscape: the now-defunct Shortage...

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Jeremy Ling
Jeremy Ling
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The UK's approach to addressing labour shortages through immigration has seen significant shifts. Three key frameworks have shaped this landscape: the now-defunct Shortage Occupation List (SOL), its replacement, the stricter Immigration Salary List (ISL) and latest Temporary Shortage List (TSL).

Each represents a distinct phase in the government's balancing act between economic needs and immigration control.

The Shortage Occupation List (SOL)

Prior to April 2024, the UK's immigration policy relied heavily on the SOL, designed to streamline the hiring of overseas workers in sectors struggling with domestic labour shortages.

The SOL identified roles where employers faced genuine difficulties recruiting locally and under this system, jobs on the SOL, which included occupations across healthcare, engineering, IT and construction, enjoyed significant concessions.

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