What is the Shortage Occupation List?
The shortage Occupation List is a list of occupations where there is a shortage of skilled workers in the UK. The Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) provides recommendations for roles to be included on this list, taking into consideration meeting the needs of UK businesses.
Which industries have job positions listed on the shortage occupation list?
The shortage occupation list in the UK includes job positions across various sectors. Sectors such as: Health and social care, creative, therapy, education, professional, IT, construction, science and Engineering,
It's important to note that the shortage occupation list is subject to change and is regularly reviewed and updated by the Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) in the UK.
Healthcare jobs on Shortage Occupation List 2023
| Occupation code | Job types included on the shortage occupations list |
| 1181 | Health services and public health managers and directors – all jobs |
| 1242 | Residential, day and domiciliary care managers and proprietors – all jobs |
| 6145 | Care workers and home carers - private households or individuals (other than sole traders sponsoring someone to work for their business) cannot sponsor Skilled Worker applicants |
| 6146 | Senior care workers – all jobs |
Construction sector jobs on Shortage Occupation List 2023
| Occupation code | Job types included on the shortage occupations list |
| 5215 | Welding trades – only high integrity pipe welders, where the job requires 3 or more years’ related on-the-job experience. This experience must not have been gained through illegal working. |
| 5312 | Bricklayers and masons |
| 5313 | Roofers, roof tilers and slaters |
| 5315 | Carpenters and joiners |
| 5319 | Construction and building trades not elsewhere classified |
| 5321 | Plasterers including dry liners |
Creative Sector jobs on Shortage Occupation List 2023
| Occupation code | Job types included on the shortage occupations list |
| 3111 | Laboratory technicians – all jobs |
| 3411 | Artists – all jobs |
| 3414 | Dancers and choreographers – only skilled classical ballet dancers or skilled contemporary dancers who meet the standard required by internationally recognised UK ballet or contemporary dance companies. |
| The company must be endorsed as being internationally recognised by a UK industry body such as the Arts Councils (of England, Scotland or Wales). | |
| 3415 | Musicians – only skilled orchestral musicians who are leaders, principals, sub-principals or numbered string positions, and who meet the standard required by internationally recognised UK orchestras. |
| The orchestra must a full member of the Association of British Orchestras. | |
| 3416 | Arts officers, producers and directors – all jobs |
| 3421 | Graphic designers – all jobs |
Professional Service jobs on Shortage Occupation List 2023
| Occupation code | Job types included on the shortage occupations list |
| 2216 | Veterinarians – all jobs |
| 2425 | Actuaries, economists and statisticians – only bio-informaticians and informaticians |
| 2431 | Architects – all jobs |
| 3111 | Laboratory technicians – all jobs |
| 5215 | Welding trades – only high integrity pipe welders, where the job requires 3 or more years’ related on-the-job experience. This experience must not have been gained through illegal working. |
IT sector jobs on Shortage Occupation List 2023
| Occupation code | Job types included on the shortage occupations list |
| 2135 | IT business analysts, architects and systems designers – all jobs |
| 2136 | Programmers and software development professionals – all jobs |
| 2137 | Web design and development professionals – all jobs |
| 2139 | Information technology and communications professionals not elsewhere classified – only cyber security specialists |
Science sector jobs on Shortage Occupation List 2023
| Occupation code | Job types included on the shortage occupations list |
| 2111 | Chemical scientists – only jobs in the nuclear industry |
| 2112 | Biological scientists and biochemists – all jobs |
| 2113 | Physical scientists – only the following jobs in the construction-related ground engineering industry: |
| engineering geologist | |
| hydrogeologist | |
| geophysicist | |
| 2113 | Physical scientists – only the following jobs in the oil and gas industry: |
| geophysicist | |
| geoscientist | |
| geologist | |
| geochemist | |
| technical services manager in the decommissioning and waste areas of the nuclear industry | |
| senior resource geologist and staff geologist in the mining sector | |
| 2114 | Social and humanities scientists – only archaeologists |
Engineering sector jobs on Shortage Occupation List 2023
| Occupation code | Job types included on the shortage occupations list |
| 2121 | Civil engineers – all jobs |
| 2122 | Mechanical engineers – all jobs |
| 2123 | Electrical engineers – all jobs |
| 2124 | Electronics engineers – all jobs |
| 2126 | Design and development engineers – all jobs |
| 2127 | Production and process engineers – all jobs |
| 2129 | Engineering professionals not elsewhere classified – all jobs |
| 2461 | Quality control and planning engineers – all jobs |
