Latest news shaping UK recruitment

What the strategy means for UK employers

Demand across regulated sectors is set to outpace domestic supply, particularly in healthcare, construction, education, and technology. The strategy recognises that international recruitment pathways remain essential to safeguard service delivery and economic resilience.

• Employers should maintain global talent pipelines to meet compliance targets.
• Robust onboarding, ethical recruitment, and retention programmes are mission critical.
• Data-led workforce planning is encouraged to evidence compliance and outcomes.

Programme highlights

• Dedicated talent pools in Manila, Nairobi, and Dubai aligned to NHS frameworks.
• Onboarding support covering CBT/OSCE prep, accommodation, and family visas.
• Retention playbooks benchmarked against NHS People Plan priorities.

What employers should know

Priority processing reduces decision times to 10 working days for qualifying applications. Employers should review sponsorship documentation and ensure supporting evidence aligns with updated guidance.

• Eligible categories include Tech Nation-equivalent endorsements, research councils, and recognised accelerators.
• Maintain compliant right-to-work checks and diarise visa expiry alerts for renewal windows.

Addressing the UK's Construction Skills Gap

The UK construction industry is experiencing unprecedented demand, with South African bricklayers, plumbers, electricians, and welders being actively recruited to fill critical skills gaps. Recent changes to the UK's shortage occupation list have made it easier for these skilled tradespeople to obtain work visas.

"We've seen a significant increase in South African businesses expanding to the UK market, particularly in construction," says Saskia Johnston of Sable International. "Just last month, we helped a South African business send 22 welders to the UK, which is unprecedented."

Why South African Workers Stand Out

South African tradespeople are particularly sought after for their exceptional productivity and work ethic. Industry reports indicate that South African bricklayers can complete up to three times the work of their UK counterparts, making them highly valuable to construction firms facing tight deadlines and labor shortages.

The UK's construction boom, combined with an aging domestic workforce and reduced access to European labor post-Brexit, has created significant opportunities for skilled South African workers. The UK government has responded by adding several construction trades to its shortage occupation list, streamlining the visa process for these in-demand roles.

Key Trends in Construction Recruitment

• 22 welders recently relocated to the UK in a single recruitment drive
• Bricklayers, plumbers, and electricians now on UK shortage list
• South African workers can triple the output of UK counterparts

Addressing the UK's Care Workforce Shortage

The UK government introduced the Health and Care Worker visa in 2020 to address severe staffing shortages in the social care sector. Since then, the number of African care workers in the UK has surged, with Nigeria alone accounting for over 30,000 visas. Zimbabwe and Ghana follow with 15,000 and 10,000 visas respectively.

This trend reflects broader labor shortages in the UK, where an aging population has created a growing demand for elderly care services. The Office for National Statistics projects that the number of people aged 85 and over will double by 2043, further straining the system.

Why African Workers Are Choosing the UK

For many African healthcare workers, the UK offers better pay and working conditions than they can find at home. A nurse in Nigeria, for example, earns around $300 per month, compared to $2,500 or more in the UK. This wage disparity, coupled with limited career advancement opportunities in their home countries, has driven many to seek employment abroad.

However, the brain drain has raised concerns in Africa, where healthcare systems are already under-resourced. The World Health Organization estimates that Africa has a shortage of 6.1 million healthcare workers, a gap that could widen if emigration continues at its current pace.

Challenges and Opportunities

• UK care sector faces 40% staff turnover with many considering leaving due to low pay
• Average care worker earns £10.90/hour, just above UK minimum wage
• Remittances to Nigeria from UK workers total $20 billion annually

Key Findings from the Year Ending June 2025

The UK government's latest immigration statistics show a 36% decrease in work-related visa grants compared to the previous year, with 182,553 visas issued to main applicants. This follows several policy changes aimed at reducing net migration while addressing critical skills shortages.

The most dramatic decline was seen in the Health and Care Worker visa category, which fell by 77% to 20,519 main applicants. The largest decreases were in Caring Personal Service (down 88% to 7,378) and Nursing Professional (down 80% to 3,080) occupations.

Impact on the Care Sector

The care sector has been particularly affected by the policy changes implemented in Spring 2024. The number of dependants per main applicant on Health and Care Worker visas has remained stable at an average of 2, despite the overall decline in numbers.

"The decrease in Health and Care Worker visas is largely due to increased scrutiny of employers in the health and social care sector and compliance actions against those not fulfilling their obligations," explained a Home Office spokesperson.

Shifts in Skilled Worker Visas

Other skilled work routes saw a 38% decrease in main applicant visas, with significant drops in:

• Food Preparation and Hospitality Trades: 81% decrease
• IT Professionals: 23% decrease
• Dependant visas: 25% decrease

Regional Trends and Future Outlook

The data shows significant regional variations, with certain sectors continuing to experience acute skills shortages. The government has indicated that further adjustments to the immigration system may be considered to better align with the UK's economic needs.

"While we're seeing a rebalancing of the immigration system, certain sectors will continue to rely on international talent to fill critical roles," noted a spokesperson from the Department for Business and Trade. "Our focus remains on ensuring the immigration system supports economic growth while being fair and controlled."