Construction Industry – Immigration Update as Extra Construction Jobs to be added to the Shortage Occupation List
The construction sector has repeatedly made it clear to the government that it is facing recruitment issues that are driving up contractual prices and the ability to meet build and construction deadlines. That isn’t good for the UK economy, a fact recognised by the government in the 2023 Spring Budget Statement.
Our immigration solicitors assess how the 2023 Budget Statement and the planned changes to the immigration rules on the sponsorship of construction workers will help the construction sector.
UK Online and London-Based Immigration Solicitors and Sponsorship Licence Lawyers
For advice on sponsoring skilled workers call OTS Solicitors on 0203 959 9123 or contact us online.
Migration and the 2023 Spring Budget Statement
The section on migration in the 2023 Spring Budget Statement is easily missed because the focus of the budget speech and media interest was on getting the over-50-year age bracket of early retirees and stay-at-home parents back into work. Buried in the statement there is this passage on migration:
‘’Alongside investments to support people into work, the government will ensure that the UK labour market has access to skills and talent from abroad where needed, to help businesses tackle immediate labour shortages and ease business visits to the UK.
To help ease immediate labour supply pressures, the government commissioned the Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) to undertake a rapid Shortage Occupation List (SOL) assessment for the construction and hospitality sectors, ahead of its full review of the SOL concluding later in 2023. The government has accepted the MAC’s interim recommendations, to initially add five construction occupations to the SOL, which will take effect before summer recess. The government will also review the SOL more regularly, based on recommendations from the MAC, so that the legal migration system is quicker and more responsive to the needs of businesses and the economy.
To make it easier and more attractive to do business in the UK, the government will simplify business visitor rules. This includes expanding the range of short-term business activities that can be carried out for periods of up to 6 months and reviewing permitted paid engagements. These changes will be implemented from autumn 2023. In addition, the government will consider further enhanced provisions linked to negotiations with trade partners, including a wider range of activities’’.
Sponsoring construction workers
In terms of action, Sponsorship Licence lawyers are pleased to note that the government intends to add 5 construction roles to the Home Office published shortage occupation list. Adding these jobs to the shortage occupation list will make it easier for construction businesses with sponsor licences to recruit skilled workers from overseas.
The 5 construction job roles to be added to the shortage occupation list are:
- Bricklayers and masons
- Carpenters and joiners
- Construction and building trade N.E.C.
- Plasterers
- Roofers, roof tilers and roof slaters
These construction jobs are being added on the recommendation of the Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) after the MAC undertook a further assessment of the shortage occupation list for the construction and hospitality sectors. The MAC is still planning to publish a full review of the shortage occupation list, with the addition of the 5 construction roles to the shortage occupation list intended to be a temporary quick fix to an increasingly problematic sector for recruitment. After all, the government plans to attract early retirees and stay-at-home parents back to work are unlikely to attract many people who are able or willing to return to building sites and resume hard but skilled labour.
Construction jobs on the shortage occupation list
Adding construction jobs to the shortage occupation list will make it easier for businesses with sponsor licences to recruit from overseas as the process is easier and the immigration fees a bit cheaper.
Sponsorship Licence lawyers say that just as importantly the minimum salary threshold is lower for a job that is on the shortage occupation list. For small construction firms, the inclusion of jobs on the shortage occupation list can make the difference when it comes to the economics and affordability of recruiting from overseas.
The minimum salary threshold for construction jobs on the shortage occupation list
If your construction job vacancy is on the shortage occupation list then you will need to pay your skilled worker visa applicant the minimum salary threshold of £20,480 gross per year (rising to £20,960 gross per year in April 2023) or 80% of the job’s Home Office advertised ‘going rate’ for the job, whichever is the higher figure.
Minimum salary thresholds and going rates can be confusing so for advice on whether a construction job will qualify for a skilled worker visa call our Sponsorship Licence lawyers at OTS Solicitors on 0203 959 9123.
Sponsor licences for construction firms
Sponsorship Licence lawyers are anticipating a further rise in enquiries from construction firms interested in applying for their first sponsor licence or deciding to renew an existing sponsor licence because the inclusion of jobs on the shortage occupation list makes the costs and bureaucracy involved in obtaining a sponsor licence worthwhile.
Some construction companies are put off by the thought of the work that has to be undertaken to apply for or renew a sponsor licence but through the use of specialist Sponsorship Licence lawyers the process isn’t that arduous.
Once your sponsor licence has been secured, Sponsorship Licence lawyers can be appointed as your level one user on the sponsor management system so business immigration lawyers can take the hassle out of administering your sponsor licence by working with your HR team or administrator. This can be achieved with OTS Solicitors offering a monthly retainer service so construction firms have the certainty of a set monthly fee with access to specialist Sponsorship Licence lawyers and the comfort of knowing that they are getting the up-to-date legal and sponsorship advice they need to keep on top of their reporting and recording duties on the sponsor management system.
UK Online and London-Based Immigration Solicitors and Sponsorship Licence Lawyers
For advice on sponsoring skilled workers call OTS Solicitors on 0203 959 9123 or contact us online.
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