More UK skilled worker visas to chefs than to tech workers, Indians get 25% of visas

Chefs have surpassed tech workers as the most common occupation among migrants arriving in the UK on skilled worker visas till March 2024, according to a recent analysis of official data by the Financial Times. Chefs from India have cornered 25% of those visas. This comes even as visas issued by the UK for tech workers saw a dip by over 50%.

This trend emerges as the British government aims to tighten immigration levels. In the UK, chefs are eligible for a skilled worker visa, but cooks are not.

The surge in skilled worker visas for chefs was mainly driven by migrants from South Asia, with Indians receiving 25% of visas, Bangladeshis 22%, and Pakistanis 21%, in the first three months of this year, reported the Financial Times.

In the year leading up to March 2024, 6,203 chefs were granted skilled worker visas, marking a 54% increase from the previous year, according to data published by the Home Office.

In contrast, the number of visas issued to programmers and software developers dropped by more than half, from 8,752 to 4,280.

WORK VISAS OVERTAKE STUDY VISAS GRANTED BY THE UK

The Office for National Statistics (ONS) reported that immigration levels have record highs in 2023.

In 2023, approximately 1.22 million people migrated to the United Kingdom, while 532,000 emigrated away from the country, resulting in a net migration figure of 685,000, according to Statista.

Work has now overtaken study as the primary reason for migration, according to the Financial Times.

The surge in work visas has been driven largely by an increase in permits granted to care workers and their families.

Meanwhile, employers are sponsoring fewer recruits in high-paying fields that once dominated skilled worker visa allocations.

Overall, the Home Office issued 67,703 skilled worker visas in the year to March 2024, a 2% decrease from the previous year.

The decline in tech sector hiring has affected not only programmers but also IT business analysts and management consultants.

Despite many employers accelerating visa applications to beat impending fee hikes and salary requirement increases.

UK VISA MINIMUM INCOME REQUIREMENT FACES CHALLENGE

As per the salary thresholds announced by the UK government, the applicants must have a minimum annual salary of £29,000 (around Rs 30,95,590 as per the current exchange rate) to qualify. This marks a significant 55 per cent increase from the previous threshold of £18,600 (around Rs 19,85,601).

Chefs, whose average annual salary was £22,877 in April 2023 according to the ONS, are among those likely to be priced out of the system, reported the Financial Times.

This change is part of the government’s broader effort to reduce legal migration and prevent newcomers from becoming a burden on taxpayers.

Home Secretary James Cleverly emphasised the need for tough decisions to manage migration levels.

“We have reached a tipping point with mass migration. There is no simple solution or easy decision which cuts numbers to levels acceptable to the British people,” said Cleverly.

Labour shortages have led to an increase in skilled worker visas for other food and hospitality roles, such as butchers and restaurant managers.

The accommodation and food service sector accounted for 17% of skilled worker visas in early 2024, more than double the proportion from two years prior.

While the government’s rule changes aim to reduce overall immigration, business groups remain concerned about filling vacancies.