The United Kingdom’s (UK) Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) has released a new report outlining 82 mid-skilled occupations eligible for temporary work visas under a fresh migration route designed to tackle ongoing labour shortages.

Among the occupations listed are bricklayers, fashion designers, HR officers, engineering technicians, welders, carpenters, civil engineers, photographers, translators, and logistics managers, all identified as essential to sustaining the UK’s growth ambitions.

The initiative forms part of Britain’s Temporary Shortage List which aims to attract foreign workers to fill roles vital to the country’s industrial strategy and long-term infrastructure plans. The new immigration pathway will grant visas lasting between three and five years for professionals across sectors such as engineering, logistics, health and safety, and the creative industries.

The government has described the Temporary Shortage List as a ‘narrow’ and targeted measure, offering time-limited visas for positions where domestic supply is currently insufficient.

According to the MAC, the selected roles are considered crucial to delivering the government’s industrial priorities. The list centres on eight growth-focused sectors, including defence, life sciences, and creative industries, alongside critical infrastructure development such as road construction and hospital projects.

The scheme is expected to provide short-term relief for employers grappling with persistent skills shortages while the UK continues to invest in training and upskilling its domestic workforce.

Under the new scheme, eligible workers would be granted three to five-year visas but would not have the right to settle permanently, unless future government policy changes, the MAC confirmed.

Here is the full list of occupations and job code:

Job code | Occupation title

1,243| Managers in logistics

1,257| Hire services managers and proprietors

1,258| Directors in consultancy services

3,111| Laboratory technicians

3,112| Electrical and electronics technicians

3,113| Engineering technicians

3,114| Building and civil engineering technicians

3,115| Quality assurance technicians

3,116| Planning, process and production technicians

3,119| Science, engineering and production technicians not elsewhere classified (n.e.c.)

3,120| CAD, drawing and architectural technicians

3,131| IT operations technicians

3,132| IT user support technicians

3,133| Database administrators and web content technicians

3,213| Medical and Dental Technicians

3,411| Artists

3,412| Authors, writers and translators

3,413| Actors, entertainers and presenters

3,414| Dancers and choreographers

3,415| Musicians

Curbing net migration

The announcement follows a surge in net migration, which climbed to 906,000 in the year to June 2023.

The figure has intensified pressure on the government to strike a balance between attracting overseas workers and training more UK nationals to meet domestic labour demand, as it continues to contend with a sluggish economy and persistent worker shortages across several key industries.

Keir Starmer, UK’s prime minister adopted this firm stance on immigration amid growing public concern over illegal Channel crossings and with Labour slipping behind the Reform UK party in recent opinion polls.

Concerning the report, the MAC cautioned that any job added to the Temporary Shortage List must be supported by “a clear plan demonstrating the action being taken to maximize the use of domestic workers and reduce reliance on migrant labour.”

Applicants under the new route will be required to meet a minimum English language threshold, while employers must outline strategies to train and recruit UK-based talent.

A second phase of the review, scheduled for July 2026, will assess which occupations should be included on the final list.

Similar targeted visa systems are already in place in countries such as Canada and Australia, where specialized schemes help plug workforce gaps in areas like healthcare, engineering, and skilled trades. (BusinessDay)