Shortage Occupation List 2026: Is Your Job on It?

The UK Shortage Occupation List identifies roles where the country has a recognised shortage of workers. If your job is on the list, you may benefit from lower salary thresholds and reduced visa fees. This guide explains how the list works in 2026 and what it means for your Skilled Worker visa.

Checked 2 September 202612 min readWritten by the Rowan Editorial Team

Section: Skilled Worker Visa
Reading time: 12 min
Last checked: 2 September 2026
Source: The published Immigration Rules and GOV.UK guidance, linked throughout this guide.
Rowan does not: Look at your own case, tell you which route to choose, or say what the Home Office will decide. This guide shows the published rules and where to read them.

In short

The Shortage Occupation List has been replaced by the Immigration Salary List (ISL) since April 2024.
Jobs on the ISL benefit from a lower salary threshold and reduced visa application fees.
The ISL is significantly shorter than the old SOL, with many previously listed roles removed.
The Migration Advisory Committee reviews the list and advises the government on changes.
A separate Temporary Shortage List (from 22 July 2025) covers medium-skilled jobs; new applicants in those jobs cannot bring dependants.
If your role is on the ISL, your employer can sponsor you more easily on a Skilled Worker visa.

The Shortage Occupation List (now called the Immigration Salary List) is a government-maintained list of jobs in short supply in the UK. Workers in these roles benefit from lower salary thresholds and reduced visa fees on the Skilled Worker route. This guide covers the current list, recent changes, and what it all means for applicants and employers.

What Is the Shortage Occupation List?

The Shortage Occupation List (SOL) has historically been a list of occupations where the UK does not have enough resident workers to fill demand. If your job appeared on this list, your employer could sponsor you on a Skilled Worker visa with certain advantages, including lower salary requirements and reduced visa fees.

In April 2024, the government replaced the SOL with the Immigration Salary List (ISL). The ISL serves the same purpose but is considerably shorter. Many roles that were on the old SOL are no longer included. The term "Shortage Occupation List" is still widely used, but the official list is now the ISL.

The list is based on recommendations from the Migration Advisory Committee (MAC), an independent body that advises the government on migration policy.

How the Immigration Salary List Works

Each job in the UK is assigned a Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) code. The ISL lists specific SOC codes that qualify for shortage occupation benefits. When your employer creates a Certificate of Sponsorship for your Skilled Worker visa, they assign a SOC code to your role. If that code appears on the ISL, you benefit from the concessions.

Benefits of Being on the ISL

Lower general salary threshold. The standard Skilled Worker salary threshold is £41,700 per year (as of 2026). Roles on the ISL use a lower general threshold of £33,400.
No going-rate discount. The going rate is the minimum salary for a specific occupation. ISL roles must still be paid the full going rate; the old 20% discount ended with the Shortage Occupation List.
Lower visa fees. The application fee for an ISL job is £628 for up to 3 years or £1,235 for more than 3 years, against £819 or £1,618 for a standard application from outside the UK.
Sponsorship below degree level. Since 22 July 2025 a new Skilled Worker job must be at RQF level 6 unless its code is on the ISL or the Temporary Shortage List. Medium-skilled ISL jobs can still be sponsored, but new applicants in them cannot bring a partner or children as dependants, apart from the exceptions listed on GOV.UK.

What Changed from the SOL to the ISL?

The transition from the Shortage Occupation List to the Immigration Salary List was a significant shift. Here is what changed:

Fewer roles. The old SOL contained dozens of occupations across healthcare, engineering, IT, education, and construction. The ISL is much shorter, with many previously listed roles removed.
No more 20% salary discount. Under the old SOL, shortage roles could be paid 80% of the going rate. Under the ISL there is no going-rate discount; only the general threshold is lower.
New SOC codes. The UK switched to the SOC 2020 system, replacing SOC 2010. This means some job codes have changed, and you need to check the new classification for your role.
Removal dates. Every entry on the ISL now has a published removal date. A certificate of sponsorship must be issued before that date for the entry to apply.

The 2025 Immigration White Paper signalled further reforms. The government has indicated it wants to reduce reliance on overseas workers in shortage roles by investing in domestic training. This means the ISL could shrink further in coming years.

Which Jobs Are Currently on the ISL?

The version published on 3 August 2026 lists 25 occupation codes. Every entry has a removal date of 31 December 2026, except care workers and senior care workers (22 July 2028). They are:

Care: care managers (1232), nursing auxiliaries and assistants (6131), care workers and home carers (6135), senior care workers (6136)
Science: chemical scientists in the nuclear industry, Scotland only (2111), biological scientists (2112), archaeologists (2115), laboratory technicians with 3 or more years' experience (3111), pharmaceutical technicians (3212)
Construction: high-integrity pipe welders (5213), stonemasons (5312), bricklayers (5313), roofers (5314), carpenters and joiners (5316), retrofitters (5319)
Arts: graphic and multimedia designers (2142), artists (3411), skilled classical and contemporary dancers (3414), leading orchestral musicians (3415), arts officers, producers and directors (3416)
Fishing, boats and horses: fishing boat masters in Scotland (1212), fishing industry trades (5119), boat and ship builders in Scotland (5235), racing grooms and stud staff (6129), deckhands on large fishing vessels with 3 or more years' experience (9119)

Doctors, nurses, engineers, IT professionals, teachers, social workers, chefs and veterinarians are not on it.

Always check the official ISL on GOV.UK for the most current list. Roles are added and removed based on MAC reviews, and the list you find online today may differ from what was in place when you started your application.

The Temporary Shortage List

On 22 July 2025 the skill level for a new Skilled Worker job rose to RQF level 6 (degree level). At the same time the government published a Temporary Shortage List of medium-skilled jobs (RQF level 3 to 5) that can still be sponsored while they stay on it. It covers technician, IT support, administrative, construction, engineering trade and vehicle trade codes, for example engineering technicians (3113), book-keepers and payroll managers (4122), electricians (5241) and plumbers (5315).

The list shows the going rate for each code, and the general Skilled Worker salary rules apply on top. The lower visa fee applies only to ISL jobs, not to the Temporary Shortage List. A worker sponsored in a Temporary Shortage List job cannot bring a partner or children as new dependants, apart from the exceptions listed on GOV.UK. The list is published at Skilled Worker visa: temporary shortage list.

How the ISL Affects Your Skilled Worker Visa

If your role is on the ISL, the practical impact on your Skilled Worker visa application is straightforward:

Your employer assigns the correct SOC code. When they create your Certificate of Sponsorship, they select the SOC code that matches your job duties. The code must accurately reflect what you will actually do.
The lower general threshold applies. If the SOC code is on the ISL, the general threshold is £33,400 instead of £41,700. The going rate is unchanged.
You pay lower visa fees. The application fee for an ISL job is £628 for up to 3 years or £1,235 for more.
Your application is assessed normally. Being on the ISL does not guarantee approval. You still need to meet all other Skilled Worker requirements, including English language, maintenance funds, and a genuine vacancy.

ISL and Salary Thresholds

Understanding how the ISL interacts with salary thresholds is important. The Skilled Worker visa has two salary requirements you must meet:

The general salary threshold: Currently £41,700 per year for most roles.
The going rate for your occupation: The minimum salary for your specific SOC code, based on data from the Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings.

You must meet whichever is higher. For ISL roles only the general threshold is reduced, to £33,400. The going rate is not discounted.

Be aware that salary thresholds can change. If you were sponsored at a discounted rate and your role is later removed from the ISL, this may affect future extension or ILR applications if the salary requirements have increased.

The Role of the Migration Advisory Committee

The MAC is an independent, non-departmental public body that advises the government on migration issues. It is composed of economists and migration experts. The MAC's role in the ISL process includes:

Reviewing evidence about labour shortages in specific sectors
Consulting with employers, trade unions, and other stakeholders
Publishing reports recommending which occupations should be added or removed
Assessing whether migration is the appropriate response to a labour shortage (as opposed to training, automation, or better pay)

The government is not bound by MAC recommendations but usually follows them. MAC reports are published on GOV.UK and provide useful insight into the direction of policy for specific sectors.

Common Misconceptions

Being on the ISL does not guarantee a visa

Having a job on the ISL makes your application easier and cheaper, but it does not guarantee approval. You must still meet all standard Skilled Worker visa requirements.

The ISL is not the same as a skills shortage

A general skills shortage in a sector does not mean the job is on the ISL. The ISL is a specific, formally defined list. Only roles listed by their SOC code qualify for the benefits.

Removal from the ISL does not cancel your visa

If your role is removed from the ISL after your visa is granted, your existing visa remains valid. However, when you come to extend or apply for ILR, you will need to meet the standard (non-discounted) salary requirements in place at that time.

What the Future Holds

The government's direction of travel is clear: it wants to reduce the size of the ISL and encourage employers to invest in domestic training rather than relying on overseas recruitment. The 2025 Immigration White Paper proposed linking the ISL more closely to workforce development strategies.

Each entry on the list carries a removal date: 31 December 2026 for most entries, 22 July 2028 for care workers and senior care workers. An entry only applies where the certificate of sponsorship was issued before that date.

Next Steps

Start by checking whether your role appears on the current ISL on GOV.UK. Confirm the SOC code with your employer and ensure the salary meets the applicable threshold.

Related guides:

Questions and answers

What is the Shortage Occupation List?

It was a list of jobs where the UK had a recognised shortage of workers, and it no longer exists. It was replaced by the Immigration Salary List in April 2024. The name is still widely used, which is why this guide keeps it, but the list that governs Skilled Worker applications today is the Immigration Salary List, maintained on the advice of the Migration Advisory Committee.

What are the benefits of being on the Shortage Occupation List?

Jobs on the Immigration Salary List, which replaced the Shortage Occupation List, have a lower general salary threshold of £33,400 instead of £41,700, but must still be paid the full going rate for the job. The visa fee is lower: £628 for up to 3 years or £1,235 for more than 3 years, instead of £819 or £1,618 from outside the UK. Medium-skilled jobs (RQF level 3 to 5) on the list can still be sponsored even though the general skill level is now RQF level 6.

Has the Shortage Occupation List changed in 2026?

Yes. The government replaced the traditional Shortage Occupation List with the Immigration Salary List (ISL) in April 2024. The ISL is significantly shorter than the old SOL. From 22 July 2025 a separate Temporary Shortage List covers medium-skilled jobs (RQF level 3 to 5) that can still be sponsored, and every entry on the ISL now carries a removal date (31 December 2026 for most entries, 22 July 2028 for care workers). The Migration Advisory Committee advises the government on which occupations stay on the lists.

How do I know if my job is on the Shortage Occupation List?

Check the Immigration Salary List on GOV.UK. Each role is listed by its SOC (Standard Occupational Classification) code. Your Certificate of Sponsorship from your employer will include the SOC code for your role. You can also search by job title on the GOV.UK website.

Does the Shortage Occupation List help with ILR?

Being on the Shortage Occupation List does not directly affect your ILR application. However, if you were sponsored at a lower salary because of the SOL discount, you will still need to meet the salary requirements in place at the time of your ILR application. This can create complications if salary thresholds have increased since your visa was granted.

This guide is general information about published immigration rules. It is not advice about an individual application under s.82 Immigration and Asylum Act 1999, and Rowan is not regulated by the Immigration Advice Authority. Immigration rules change several times a year. For advice on a particular situation, contact an adviser authorised by the Immigration Advice Authority or an immigration solicitor. Always check GOV.UK for the authoritative current rules.

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