Key changes to the Skilled Worker Route

On 01 July 2025, the Home Office released a statement of changes which predominantly effects the Skilled Worker route. These changes will be implemented on 22 July 2025. 

The changes follow on from the White Paper that was published in May 2025 and to further the Government’s plans of reforming legal immigration. 

We are aware that these changes will significantly impact several of our existing clients and therefore this article aims to set out the information to be aware of as a Skilled Worker sponsor. 

Increase on Skill Threshold from RQF 3 to RQF 6 

The skill level requirement will be increased from Regulated Qualifications Framework (RQF) 3 to RQF 6. An exemption to this increase will be the roles included in the Interim Shortage Lists discussed below. This increase in level will significantly cut down the occupations available for new Skilled Workers including but not limited to, the following SOC codes that are commonly used by our clients:

• 5434 – Chefs
• 7132 – Sales supervisors – retail and wholesale
• 1222 – Restaurant and catering establishment managers and proprietors
• 3553 – Merchandisers

Transitional arrangements

Workers who are already on the Skilled Worker route or are assigned a CoS on or before 21 July 2025, are permitted to continue in roles at RQF Level 3, 4 & 5. However, the Government’s memorandum states that this “will not be in place indefinitely and will be reviewed in due course.”

Interim Shortage Lists – including roles at level RQF 3, 4 & 5

As mentioned, an exemption to the skill level requirement is if the role is included on the Immigration Salary List or the new interim Temporary Shortage List. 

The new interim Temporary Shortage List will include: 

• 1243 Managers in logistics 
• 1258 Directors in consultancy services 
• 3111 Laboratory technicians 
• 3112 Electrical and electronics technicians 
• 3113 Engineering technicians 
• 3114 Building and civil engineering technicians 
• 3115 Quality assurance technicians 
• 3116 Planning, process and production technicians 
• 3120 CAD, drawing and architectural technicians 
• 3131 IT operations technicians 
•  3132 IT user support technicians 
• 3133 Database administrators and web content technicians 
• 3412 Authors, writers and translators 
• 3414 Dancers and choreographers 
• 3417 Photographers, audio-visual and broadcasting equipment operators 
• 3422 Clothing, fashion and accessories designers 
• 3429 Design occupations not elsewhere classified – only the following job types: 
  • Industrial and product designers 
  • Packaging designers 
  • Performance make-up artists 
  • Set designers 
  • Visual merchandising managers and designers 
• 3512 Ship and hovercraft officers 
• 3520 Legal associate professionals 
• 3532 Insurance underwriters 
• 3533 Financial and accounting technicians 
• 3541 Estimators, valuers and assessors 
• 3544 Data analysts 
• 3549 Business associate professionals not elsewhere classified – only the following job types: 
  • Business support officers 
  • Business systems analysts 
  • Contract administrators 
  • Clinical coders 
  • Clinical trials administrators 
  • Research coordinators 
• 3552 Business sales executives 
• 3554 Advertising and marketing associate professionals 
• 3571 Human resources and industrial relations officers 
• 3573 Information technology trainers 
• 4121 Credit controllers 
• 4122 Book-keepers, payroll managers and wages clerks 
• 4129 Financial administrative occupations not elsewhere classified – only the following job types: 
  • Box office assistants 
  • Grants officers 
  • Mortgage administrators 
  • Revenue assistants (excludes National and Local government revenue occupations) 
  • Treasury assistants 
• 4132 Pensions and insurance clerks and assistants 
• 5213 Welding trades 
• 5214 Pipe fitters 
• 5223 Metal working production and maintenance fitters 
• 5225 Air-conditioning and refrigeration installers and repairers 
• 5231 Vehicle technicians, mechanics and electricians 
• 5232 Vehicle body builders and repairers 
• 5233 Vehicle paint technicians 
• 5235 Boat and ship builders and repairers 
• 5241 Electricians and electrical fitters 
• 5242 Telecoms and related network installers and repairers 
• 5244 Computer system and equipment installers and servicers 
• 5245 Security system installers and repairers 
• 5249 Electrical and electronic trades not elsewhere classified 
• 5311 Steel erectors 
• 5315 Plumbers and heating and ventilating installers and repairers 
• 5319 Construction and building trades not elsewhere classified – only the following job types: 
  • Builders 
  • Divers 
  • Fence erectors 
  • Industrial climbers 
  • Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV) operators 
  • Steel fixers and underpinners 
• 5322 Floorers and wall tilers 
• 5323 Painters and decorators 
• 5330 Construction and building trades supervisors 
• 8133 Energy plant operatives

Increase on Salary Threshold 

The general salary threshold will be increased from £38,700.00 to £41,700.00 and the minimum hourly rate will be £17.13 across all salary bands. 

It is important to note that the salary required for each Skilled Worker can be higher than the above thresholds, depending on the job role and working hours. Therefore, we recommend obtaining our further advice for the purposes of each worker.