UK Skills Shortage List

Generally, work permit and visa applications can be made for most areas of work apart from low level or unskilled jobs. (For example, manual craft, clerical, secretarial or similar levels, or for domestic work such as nannies or housekeepers).

However, fairly recently, the Sectors Based Scheme (SBS) has been introduced. This operates in the food manufacturing (fish processing, meat processing and mushroom processing) and hospitality (hotel and catering) sectors. The scheme operates in the same way as the existing work permit arrangements.

Permits are available where employers can show that they have been unable to recruit resident workers in certain posts which are below NVQ level 3 but they are only be issued in respect of individual overseas employees aged 18-30.

Global-Emigration can handle any and all such applications. The emphasis however is to handle applications for industry sectors experiencing a nationwide skills shortage and will be considered as priority. The statistics and clearance times listed within this site refer to these skills. Occupations not on the below list may not be cleared as quickly.

The following industry sectors are experiencing a shortage in qualified personnel. If you are one of these professionals or wishing to employ these professionals, please make full use of the relevant areas of this site, assess your position and simply order our services directly online or contact us and we will organise the process for you.

The following occupations are those where there is a known nationwide shortage of resident workers to undertake these roles. These occupations qualify under the Tier I shortage category. Tier 1 category means that Employers do not need to advertise for their position. Applications should only be made under this category where the person has the necessary qualifications/experience to do the job.

> Engineering > Healthcare > Others

General Engineering ( Menu )

Engineering occupations:

Transportation and Highways Engineers:

Engineers who are required to have a transport-related degree, or a degree and at least 2 years relevant experience from a civil background in the following specialisms:

Traffic Engineer or Transport Planner
Highways Design Engineer or Highways Planning Engineer

Ground Engineering:

Geoenvironmental Engineer
Geotechnical Engineer
Geological Advisor
Geological Analyst
Geological Associate
Geological Engineer
Geologist / Hydrogeologist
Geology / Reservoir Engineer
Geomechanics Engineer
Geophysical Specialist
Geophysicist
Geoscientist
Geosupport Engineer
Engineering Geologist
Ground Engineer
Contaminated Land Specialist

Other Engineering:

CAA Licensed Aircraft Engineer
Overhead Electricity Linesworker
Chartered Quantity Surveyor

Healthcare ( Menu )

Doctors:

Salaried GPs

Dentists:

Consultants in Dental Specialities

Consultant posts in the following specialist areas:

Accident & Emergency
Additional Dental Specialities
Anaesthetics
Cardiology
Cardiothoracic Surgery
Chemical Pathology
Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
Clinical Neurophysiology
Clinical Oncology
Clinical Radiology
Dermatology
Endocrinology & Diabetes Mellitus
Endodentics
Forensic Psychiatry
Gastroenterology
General Adult Psychiatry
General Internal Medicine
General Surgery
Genito-urinary Medicine
Geriatric Medicine
Haematology
Histopathology
Immunology
Infectious Diseases
Intensive Care Medicine
Medical Microbiology & Virology
Medical Oncology
Neurology
Neurosurgery
Nuclear Medicine
Obstetrics & Gynaecology
Occupational Health
Old Age Psychiatry
Opthalmology
Oral & Maxillo-facial Surgery
Orthodontics
Otolaryngology
Paediatric Cardiology
Paediatrics
Palliative Medicine
Plastic Surgery
Psychotherapy
Public Health Medicine
Rehabilitation Medicine
Renal Medicine
Respiratory Medicine
Rheumatology
Trauma & Orthopaedic Surgery
Urology

General:

Audiologist
Audiological Scientist
Clinical Psychologist
Dietician
Occupational Therapist
Pharmacists
Pharmacy Technician
Pre-Registration Cytogeneticists
Speech & Language Therapist
Social Worker
State Registered Scientists in Cytogenetics
Biomedical Scientist / Medical Laboratory Scientific Officer (MLSO)
Qualified HPC Registered Diagnostic & Therapeutic Radiographers, including Ultrasonographers

Nurses:

Midwives
Registered Nurse employed or engaged at Band 7 or Band 8 of Agenda for Change or their Independent sector equivalents
Registered Nurse employed or engaged in the following specialities:

Audiology
Sleep/Respiratory Physiology
Neurophysiology
Cardiac Physiology
Operating Theatre Nurse
Clinical Radiology
Pathology
Critical Care (nurses working in wards with a Level 2 or Level 3 classification)

Others ( Menu )

Other occupations:

Teachers – All posts in England and Scotland covering compulsory schooling
Veterinary Surgeon

Related Information

If you are an Employer requiring work permit assistance then contact us