Source · Select Committees · Public Accounts Committee
Recommendation 14
14
Accepted
Home Office lacks comprehensive evaluation of Skilled Worker visa route impacts and contributions since 2022.
Conclusion
The Home Office has not completed an evaluation of the use of Skilled Worker visas since 2022, which was too early to provide a full view of impacts and pre-dated the significant changes to the route in 2022 and 2024.30 As a result, it does not have a full understanding of how the 24 Home Office, Restoring Control over the Immigration System, May 2025 25 Q 17 26 Qq 9, 15 27 C&AG’s Report, para 8 28 Qq 5, 10 29 Q 16; C&AG’s Report, para 8 30 Q 8; C&AG’s Report, para 2.11 13 route is being used, its contribution to the economy or impact on skill shortages across different sectors and regions.31 The Home Office began an evaluation in 2024 looking at how salary thresholds are set, how changes to the route have worked and its collaboration with other government bodies. It told us this would be published later in 2025.32 The Immigration White Paper contained data on the use of the route across different occupations, but this focused on inflows and did not assess the impact of the route on different sectors, regions of the United Kingdom or the wider economy.33 The expansion of the Skilled Worker visa route to the social care sector
Government Response Summary
The government agrees with the committee's implicit recommendation for an evaluation but states it has already published its evaluation of the Skilled Worker visa route on May 12th. The response summarises some findings regarding motivations for coming to the UK and potential issues with salary compensation.
Government Response
Accepted
HM Government
Accepted
2.1 The government agrees with the Committee’s recommendation. Target implementation date: October 2025 2.2 The government published its evaluation of the skilled worker visa route alongside the Immigration White Paper on 12 May. Skilled worker evaluation. 2.3 The evaluation of the Skilled Worker route found that visa holders were primarily motivated to come to the UK by career opportunities (87%) and wanting to experience living in the UK (70%), while businesses most cited a shortage of skilled UK candidates (30%) as their motivation to sponsor Skilled Workers. Sponsors reported a range of business benefits from employing Skilled Workers, including creating a more diverse workforce (34%), bringing in new cultural perspectives (26%), and learning new skills from other markets (24%). 2.4 The ability to bring dependants was a key feature in deciding to work in the UK. Of those with dependants (54%), only 10% reported they would still have come to the UK if they had not been able to bring dependants. Most dependant partners were reported to be employed (71%) – the majority were employed full-time (54%). Self-reported English language ability for Skilled Workers and dependants were high. Before coming to the UK, 69% of main applicants could speak English “very well” (53% for dependant partners). This increased to 82% at the time of the survey (66% for dependant partners). 2.5 A potential unintended consequence of higher than expected use of the route is that, while most reported salaries exceeded current thresholds, some survey responses indicate that some individuals may not be compensated at thresholds which sponsors are required to meet. 39% of Skilled Workers reported earning up to £35,000 per annum, while 22% of Health and Care visa holders earned up to £22,500 per annum, though it is not possible from the survey to determine whether this is due to individual migrant circumstances (e.g., new entrant discounts). The survey sample also spans salary policy changes, meaning not all respondents were subject to the same minimum income requirements. Variations in individual salary rules and discounts may also account for reported salaries below standard route minimums, and methodological limitations could also have skewed salary estimates.