By Joanna Hunt & Bayley Brigg
|
Published 04 August 2026
The Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) has now completed its two-stage review of the Temporary Shortage List (TSL), following instruction from the Home Secretary in July 2025. The purpose of the review was to consider which 'medium skilled' roles (RQF Level 3-5) should continue to have access to skilled worker sponsorship beyond the temporary measures in place until 31 December 2026. Ultimately, the MAC have recommended a total of 28 standard occupation codes (SOC Codes) which will continue to be eligible for sponsorship in the 'skilled worker' route.
Whilst it is not yet clear how these recommendations will be implemented in practice, including transitional arrangements for current sponsored workers, it is evident from the recommendations that the new TSL will be more restrictive than the current provisions and fewer roles will be eligible for sponsorship.
What is the temporary shortage list?
The TSL provides time-limited access to the Skilled Worker route for qualifying medium-skilled occupations. It was implemented in July 2025 following the increase to the principal skill level required for skilled worker sponsorship. This increased from RQF level 3 ('A-level' standard) to RQF level 6 (‘Degree level’ standard). To soften the impact of these changes, the TSL was create to allow sponsorship for 52 roles which were considered crucial to key industries and the government's growth agenda.
However, this was only guaranteed until the end of 2026 and so a review was required to provide details of what roles would be on the list from early 2027 onwards. Since its inception, the Home Office have been clear that the nature of the TSL is temporary and subject to review, with the focus being on addressing key labour shortages in specific occupations at that specific period of time.
'Stage 2' recommendations
Whilst 'Stage 1' of the review established the framework for considering whether a role was sufficiently important to the UK economy to justify its inclusion on the TSL and a wide-ranging shortlist of occupations for further examination, 'Stage 2' represented the substantive review. Now, having undertaken a broad evidential based review of the current labour market, the MAC have recommended a refined list of 'medium-skilled' which they deem access to the skilled worker route is necessary to "support the delivery of the Industrial Strategy".
Key findings from the report published on 23 July 2026 are noted below:
- The MAC have recommended a total of 28 occupation codes for inclusion on the TSL from 1 January 2027 onwards. This consists of 20 codes which are already included on the current list and 8 new additions. The existing TSL includes a total of 52 occupation codes and this recommendation represents a clear intent to restrict the level of access to the skilled worker route for 'medium skilled' roles;
The MAC has suggested that the new TSL list will include the following SOC Codes;
| Occupation Code |
Job Type |
| 3112 |
Electrical and electronics technicians |
| 3113 |
Engineering technicians |
| 5211 |
Sheet metal workers |
| 5221 |
Metal machining setters and setter-operators |
| 5223 |
Metal working production and maintenance fitters |
| 5213 |
Welding trades |
| 5235 |
Boat and ship builders and repairers |
| 3116 |
Planning, process and production technicians |
| 5212 |
Metal plate workers, smiths, moulders and related occupations |
| 5249 |
Electrical and electronic trades n.e.c. – Overhead Line Workers only |
| 3133 |
Database administrators and web content technicians |
| 3544 |
Data analysts |
| 5242 |
Telecoms and related network installers and repairers |
| 3114 |
Building and civil engineering technicians |
| 3512 |
Ship and hovercraft officers |
| 5214 |
Pipe fitters |
| 5241 |
Electricians and electrical fitters |
| 5313 |
Bricklayers |
| 5314 |
Roofers, roof tilers and slaters |
| 5315 |
Plumbers & heating and ventilating installers and repairers |
| 5316 |
Carpenters and joiners |
| 5319 |
Construction and building trades n.e.c. - Building envelope specialists, Curtain wall installers |
| 5321 |
Plasterers |
| 5322 |
Floorers and wall tilers |
| 5323 |
Painters and decorators |
| 5330 |
Construction and building trades supervisors |
| 8113 |
Chemical and related process operatives |
| 3120 |
CAD, drawing and architectural technicians |
- They have suggested that TSL access should be granted for a shorter period (up to 18 months). Initially, Stage 1 report set the default duration for an occupation to be included on the TSL as three years, however the MAC was not satisfied that the 'Job Plans' submitted by the sectors justified inclusion for a full-three years. Sectors will be invited to prepare further submissions should they wish to extend access.
- Moving forward, it is clear that inclusion on the TSL will be governed by the importance of the role to the UK economy and without a credible case submitted by the sector which outlines accompanying plans for strengthening the domestic workforce, access to the TSL is expected to be limited
What does this mean for employers?
At this stage, the report only represents 'recommendations' and it is not yet clear how these will be implemented in practice, including transitional arrangements and the possibility of extensions for existing sponsored workers. We will provide a further update once the government outlines their plans and intentions in full. Further developments on changes to the skilled worker route are expected in Autumn.
Employers should, though, prepare themselves for a much narrower version of the TSL taking effect from 1 January 2027, in line with the MAC's suggestions. The visas of those sponsored in codes that may be removed from the TSL will remain valid and, provided there are transitional measures in place, should be extendable beyond the end of this year.
However, there may be individuals on non-sponsored visas such as graduate visas, who may currently be eligible for sponsorship under a SOC Code on the TSL but who will not be eligible from 1 January 2027 onwards. For this reason, employers should review their current workforce and should seek to bring forward sponsorship for those in 'medium-skilled' roles on the current TSL who can apply now but will not be eligible in the future. As this may lead to a spike in skilled worker visa applications towards the end of this year, employers should check their allocations of certificates of sponsorship to ensure they have sufficient CoS available to cover any additional sponsorship applications.
