What is the Immigration Salary List 2025 and what are the occupations it covers

The Immigration Salary List (ISL) 2025 is a new framework introduced by the UK government to manage skilled worker immigration. It replaces the previous Shortage Occupation List (SOL).

What is the aim of the ISL?

The ISL 2025 aims to align immigration policy with the UK's strategic economic priorities while addressing labour shortages in critical sectors. It has a significant impact on immigration to the UK as it:

• Attracts skilled workers - The ISL is designed to attract skilled professionals from other countries to fill essential roles in sectors facing significant skill shortages, such as healthcare, IT, engineering, and renewable energy. By offering reduced salary thresholds for these roles, the ISL makes it more feasible for employers to hire international talent.

• Supports economic growth - by addressing skill gaps in key industries, the ISL aims to support the growth and stability of the UK economy. Ensuring that critical sectors have access to the necessary talent helps drive innovation, productivity, and economic development.

• Supports public services - By including healthcare and other public service roles on the ISL, the policy helps ensure that essential services have the necessary staff to function effectively. This supports the wellbeing and quality of life for residents in the UK

• Simplifies the visa process - The ISL simplifies the visa application process for employers and applicants by reducing salary requirements and streamlining procedures. This makes it easier for businesses to recruit skilled workers from abroad and for applicants to secure work in the UK.

•  Enhances competitiveness - The ISL helps the UK remain competitive on a global scale by ensuring that industries critical to economic success have access to the skilled workforce they need. This is particularly important in sectors like AI, cybersecurity, and renewable energy, where global competition for talent is intense.

•  Balances immigration policy - The ISL aims to create a balanced approach to immigration by focusing on roles that genuinely require overseas talent. This ensures that immigration policy is aligned with labour market needs and strategic economic objectives.

• Ensures compliance and security - The ISL ensures that immigration policies align with the UK's economic needs while maintaining security and compliance. It helps prevent abuse of the immigration system by focusing on roles that genuinely require overseas talent.

Occupations covered by the ISL 2025

Here are some examples of occupations included in the ISL 2025:

• Healthcare - Doctors, nurses, senior care workers, and other healthcare professionals.

• IT and cybersecurity - Cybersecurity specialists, IT engineers, and other IT roles.

• Engineering and energy - Nuclear industry chemical scientists, renewable energy engineers, and other engineering roles.

• Construction and manufacturing - Production managers, construction managers, and other roles in these sectors.

• Financial services - Financial managers and other financial roles.

• Arts and design -Graphic designers, artists, and multimedia designers.

See the full list on the government’s website.

Overall, the ISL 2025 seeks to create a more effective and responsive immigration system that supports the UK's economic priorities and addresses labour shortages in critical sectors.