Home Office's Shortage Occupation List

UK employers are able to sponsor overseas migrants to work for them if they are in possession of a Home Office sponsor licence. There are many aspects to consider when a UK business is looking to sponsor a migrant worker including skills and salary thresholds. The Home Office operates a shortage occupation list (SOL) and this list covers those occupations which the Home Office considers to be in short supply. These occupations are considered to be important to the UK's economy and there are benefits to UK employers for sponsoring migrants to work in a position contained within the SOL including the ability to pay lower annual salaries.

Currently, the SOL covers many occupations including engineers, bricklayers, carpenters, certain IT specialists, roofers, plasterers and construction workers. Care workers and senior care workers are also covered within the current SOL however, there has been talk recently of the SOL being abolished altogether especially bearing in