Labour shortages: UK announces five-year visas for carpenters, bricklayers, welders, fashion designers, others (see requirements)

The Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) of the United Kingdom (UK) has released a report outlining 82 mid-skilled occupations eligible for temporary work visas under a fresh migration route designed to tackle ongoing labour shortages.
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.
According to MAC, the artisans are essential to sustaining UK’s growth ambitions.
Those to benefit in the scheme are carpenters, welders, fashion designers, bricklayers, HR officers, engineering technicians, welders, civil engineers, photographers, translators and logistics managers.
To UK Government, the Temporary Shortage List is a ‘narrow’ and targeted measure, offering time-limited visas for positions where domestic supply is currently insufficient.
MAC said 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.

Although the eligible workers would be granted three to five years visas, they would not have the right to settle permanently, unless future government policy changes.
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.
The announcement follows a surge in net migration and 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”.

*See 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