The United Kingdom government has announced a major update to its immigration rules, significantly raising salary thresholds for Skilled Worker visas.
This adjustment was to ensure that only highly skilled and well-compensated workers are able to enter the UK job market, with some salary thresholds increasing by as much as 82%.
Starting from January 1, 2025, the UK said it will implement the most significant salary increases for Skilled Worker visa applicants in recent years, raising the minimum salary from £26,200 to £38,700 for most applicants.
This review will affect a wide range of industries, including technology, healthcare, and engineering, making it more challenging for workers to secure a Skilled Worker visa without a higher-paying job offer.
Those with a relevant PhD will also see their salary requirement increase from £23,800 to £34,830, while those with a relevant STEM PhD will need to meet a threshold of £30,960, up from £20,960.
For jobs on the shortage occupation list and new entrants to the workforce, the salary requirement will also increase to £30,960.
This increase signifies the government’s plan to ensure that only the most qualified individuals can access the Skilled Worker visa programme.
The raised thresholds are based on median salary figures, which are expected to further limit the pool of eligible applicants to those who are among the highest earners in their fields.
DAAD Scholarship disclosed that for job seekers aiming to work in the UK, these changes present both challenges and opportunities.
Workers in fields such as software development, engineering, and healthcare will now need to secure job offers that meet the new salary thresholds.
Additionally, the 20% discount for shortage occupation roles will be removed under the new system. However, workers with relevant PhDs, especially in STEM fields, will still be eligible for some discounts.
New entrants to the workforce, such as recent graduates, will continue to benefit from discounts, making it slightly easier for them to meet the salary requirements.
For employers in the UK, the increased salary requirements will mean higher costs when sponsoring foreign workers.
Companies will need to adjust their budgets to accommodate these changes, but the result may lead to recruiting more qualified workforce into the UK.
