If you have been hunting for the UK Shortage Occupation List and ended up confused, you are not alone. The old list is gone, and in its place are two newer schemes — the Immigration Salary List and the Temporary Shortage List — sitting alongside much higher salary thresholds. This guide untangles the whole picture as it stands in 2026, so you know which list matters, what salary you actually need, and how long the current rules are likely to last.

From Shortage Occupation List to Immigration Salary List

The Shortage Occupation List (SOL) was scrapped on 4 April 2024. Under the old SOL, employers could pay shortage roles 80% of the going rate — a discount the government removed because it was seen as undercutting resident workers. In its place came the Immigration Salary List (ISL), a slimmer list that lowers the general salary floor but no longer discounts the going rate.

Then, on 22 July 2025, the rules changed again. The general skill level for the Skilled Worker visa was raised to RQF Level 6 (degree level), the salary thresholds jumped, and a new Temporary Shortage List (TSL) was created for lower-skilled roles that would otherwise drop out of the route.

The 2026 Skilled Worker salary thresholds

As of 2026, the salary you need for a standard Skilled Worker application is whichever is higher of:

• the general threshold of £41,700 a year (up from £38,700), or
• the published going rate for your specific occupation (SOC) code.

There is also a minimum hourly rate of £17.13. A reduced floor of around £33,400 applies to certain applicants — including those whose job is on the Immigration Salary List, new entrants to the labour market, and people with a relevant PhD in a STEM subject. A relevant non-STEM PhD lowers the floor to £37,500. Health and care and education roles follow their own national pay scales.

What is the Immigration Salary List (ISL)?

The Immigration Salary List names roughly 25 occupations that the government accepts are in short supply. If your job is on it, you can use the lower general salary threshold of £33,400 rather than £41,700. Crucially, you must still be paid at least the going rate for the occupation — being on the ISL no longer means a discount on that going rate.

Most ISL entries are time-limited and are due to expire on 31 December 2026 unless they are extended. The two care-worker codes (6135 and 6136) run longer, to 22 July 2028.

What is the Temporary Shortage List (TSL)?

Introduced on 22 July 2025, the Temporary Shortage List covers around 50 occupation codes at RQF Level 3 to 5 (roughly A-level to foundation-degree standard) — jobs that would normally no longer qualify now that the general skill threshold has risen to degree level. Sectors include construction trades, IT technicians, logistics, financial technicians and some creative roles.

The TSL is explicitly a temporary measure. Its roles are expected to expire by the end of 2026 unless extended, and any permanent successor will depend on the Migration Advisory Committee’s Stage 2 review, due in July 2026. The government has confirmed that, over time, the Temporary Shortage List is intended to replace the Immigration Salary List.

Which list applies to you?

In short: there is no longer a single “shortage list.” If your role is graduate level (RQF 6+) and in short supply, look to the Immigration Salary List for the lower salary floor. If your role is below degree level but on the approved temporary list, the Temporary Shortage List may keep it eligible for now. Either way, check the live lists on GOV.UK before you rely on them, because both are under active review.

Once you are in the UK on a Skilled Worker visa, remember your status is now digital — see our guide to setting up your eVisa — and after five years you may be able to apply for indefinite leave to remain.

Frequently asked questions

Is the Shortage Occupation List still used?

No. The Shortage Occupation List was replaced by the Immigration Salary List on 4 April 2024. Many people still search for the “shortage occupation list”, but the current equivalents are the Immigration Salary List and the Temporary Shortage List.

What is the Immigration Salary List?

It is a list of about 25 occupations that qualify for a lower general salary threshold (£33,400 instead of £41,700) on the Skilled Worker visa. You must still be paid at least the going rate for the job.

What is the Temporary Shortage List?

A time-limited list introduced on 22 July 2025 covering around 50 lower-skilled (RQF 3–5) occupations that would otherwise no longer qualify for the Skilled Worker route. It carries a reduced threshold and is due to expire by the end of 2026 unless extended.

What is the current Skilled Worker salary threshold?

As of 2026 the general threshold is £41,700 a year, or the going rate for the job, whichever is higher, with a minimum hourly rate of £17.13. Lower thresholds (around £33,400) apply for Immigration Salary List roles, new entrants and PhD-STEM roles.

When do these lists expire?

Most Immigration Salary List entries expire on 31 December 2026 (care-worker codes 6135 and 6136 run to 22 July 2028), and the Temporary Shortage List is also expected to end by late 2026. The Migration Advisory Committee is due to report in July 2026.

Does being on a shortage list reduce the going rate I must be paid?

No. The lists lower the general salary floor, but you must still be paid at least the published going rate for your occupation code.