Why do people come to the UK? To work
Updated 14 November 2023
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Back to 바카라 사이트˜Immigration system statistics, year ending June 2023바카라 사이트™ content page.
This is not the latest release. View latest release.
Data relates to the year ending June 2023 and all comparisons are with the year ending June 2022 (unless indicated otherwise).
Summary of statistics for work visas
In the year ending June 2023:
- there were around 321,000 grants to main applicants on all work visas, 45% higher than in the previous year and almost two and a half times (+144%) the number in the year ending June 2019
- 바카라 사이트˜Skilled Worker바카라 사이트™ visa grants to main applicants rose by 34% to around 69,000, compared to the previous year
- 바카라 사이트˜Skilled Worker 바카라 사이트“ Health and Care바카라 사이트™ visa grants to main applicants rose by over two and a half times (+157%) to around 120,000, compared to the previous year
- dependants accounted for around 218,000 visas granted, representing 40% of all work visas
1. Work visas granted to main applicants
There were 321,101 work visas granted to main applicants in the year ending June 2023, 45% higher than in the year ending June 2022 and almost two and a half times (+144%) the number in the year ending June 2019, prior to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Table 1: Work visas granted to main applicants by work visa type
| Work visa type | Year ending June 2022 | Year ending June 2023 | Change | Percentage change |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Worker (of which:) | 119,180 | 212,551 | +93,371 | +78% |
| 바카라 사이트ƒ Skilled Worker | 51,811 | 69,421 | +17,610 | +34% |
| 바카라 사이트ƒ Health and Care 바카라 사이트ƒ Worker |
47,194 | 121,290 | +74,096 | +157% |
| 바카라 사이트ƒ Other 바카라 사이트˜Worker바카라 사이트™ visas | 20,175 | 21,840 | +1,665 | +8% |
| Temporary Worker | 70,240 | 75,166 | +4,926 | +7% |
| Investor, business development and talent | 3,219 | 5,028 | +1,809 | +56% |
| Other work visas and exemptions1 | 28,534 | 28,356 | -178 | -1% |
| Total | 221,173 | 321,101 | +99,928 | +45% |
Source: Entry clearance visa applications and outcomes 바카라 사이트“ Vis_D02
Notes:
- The 바카라 사이트˜Other work visas and exemptions바카라 사이트™ category includes the 바카라 사이트˜Frontier Worker Permit바카라 사이트™, the 바카라 사이트˜High Potential Individual바카라 사이트™ visa and older routes such as the 바카라 사이트˜European Community Association Agreement (ECAA) businessperson바카라 사이트™, 바카라 사이트˜Overseas Domestic Worker바카라 사이트™, 바카라 사이트˜UK Ancestry바카라 사이트™, and other routes that are now closed.
Figure 1: Work visas granted to main applicants between the year ending June 2014 and the year ending June 2023, by work visa type
Source: Entry clearance visa applications and outcomes 바카라 사이트“ Vis_D02
Figure 1 shows that grants decreased in all work visa categories across 2020 following the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on international travel, before recovering in 2021. Grants to 바카라 사이트˜Worker바카라 사이트™ visas increased throughout 2022 and this growth has continued in 2023 due to increases in 바카라 사이트˜Skilled Worker바카라 사이트™ visas, including 바카라 사이트˜Health and Care Worker바카라 사이트™ visas.
Some of the increase since the pandemic will reflect a bounce back from the low level in 2020 as people have rearranged travel and work arrangements now that they are able to do so. Other increases may reflect the changes in the immigration rules following the UK바카라 사이트™s departure from the European Union at the beginning of 2021. These various factors mean that the Home Office visa statistics include a larger degree of uncertainty around the possible future trends. For further discussion and detail, see the article 바카라 사이트˜Recent changes to visa numbers in Home Office data바카라 사이트™ (Home Office, February 2023).
According to the Labour Force Survey statistics from April to June 2023, published in the , the number of non-UK nationals working in the UK has increased by 205,000 (+5%) in the past year to 4.17 million. There were an estimated 1.93 million non-EU nationals working in the UK, 142,000 higher (+8%) than a year earlier and an estimated 2.24 million EU nationals working in the UK, 63,000 higher (+3%) than a year earlier.
The ONS are reviewing the LFS methodology at present, so estimates of the foreign labour force from this source should be used with caution.
1.1 바카라 사이트˜Worker바카라 사이트™ visas
The 바카라 사이트˜Worker바카라 사이트™ visa category covers sponsored work visas which typically lead to settlement. It is the main visa category for skilled workers.
바카라 사이트˜Worker바카라 사이트™ visas granted to main applicants have increased by 78% in the year ending June 2023 compared with the previous year, primarily due to a large increase in 바카라 사이트˜Skilled Worker 바카라 사이트“ Health and Care바카라 사이트™ visas granted.
Figure 2: 바카라 사이트˜Worker바카라 사이트™ visas granted to main applicants between the year ending June 2019 and the year ending June 2023
Source: Entry clearance visa applications and outcomes 바카라 사이트“ Vis_D02
Notes:
- The 바카라 사이트˜Skilled Worker바카라 사이트™ and 바카라 사이트˜Skilled Worker 바카라 사이트“ Health and Care바카라 사이트™ visas were introduced in 2020 and together replaced the 바카라 사이트˜Tier 2 바카라 사이트“ General바카라 사이트™ visa.
Figure 2 shows the growth in 바카라 사이트˜Worker바카라 사이트™ visas following the introduction of the 바카라 사이트˜Skilled Worker바카라 사이트™ and 바카라 사이트˜Skilled Worker 바카라 사이트“ Health and Care바카라 사이트™ visas in 2020. 바카라 사이트˜Skilled Worker바카라 사이트™ visa grants have increased by 34% (+17,610) in the past year to 69,421. 바카라 사이트˜Skilled Worker 바카라 사이트“ Health and Care바카라 사이트™ visa grants have increased over two and a half times (+157% or +74,096) to 121,290 compared with the previous year, and in the latest year represented over half (57%) of all 바카라 사이트˜Worker바카라 사이트™ visas.
The latest increase is in part due to the expansion in late 2021 for 바카라 사이트˜Care workers and home carers바카라 사이트™ and 바카라 사이트˜Senior care workers바카라 사이트™. In the year ending June 2023, 바카라 사이트˜Care workers and home carers바카라 사이트™ comprised around 50% of visas granted under the 바카라 사이트˜Health and Care Worker바카라 사이트™ visa category.
Table 2: Visas granted in health and care occupations under the 바카라 사이트˜Skilled Worker - Health and Care바카라 사이트™ visa
| Occupation | Year ending June 2022 | Year ending June 2023 | Change | Percentage change |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Medical practitioners | 6,940 | 9,495 | +2,555 | +37% |
| Nurses | 23,555 | 24,689 | +1,134 | +5% |
| Other health professionals1 | 2,340 | 4,683 | +2,343 | +100% |
| Care workers and home carers2 | 1,982 | 59,996 | n/a2 | n/a2 |
| Senior care workers3 | 10,294 | 17,666 | +7,372 | +72% |
Source: Sponsored work entry clearance visas by occupation and industry 바카라 사이트“ Occ_D02
Notes:
- Based on the occupation sub-major group 바카라 사이트˜health professionals바카라 사이트™, excluding 바카라 사이트˜medical practitioners바카라 사이트™ and 바카라 사이트˜nurses바카라 사이트™.
- 바카라 사이트˜Care Workers and Home Carers바카라 사이트™ became eligible for the 바카라 사이트˜Skilled Worker - Health and Care바카라 사이트™ visa in February 2022, following a recommendation by the Migration Advisory Committee in their annual report for 2021. Therefore, the year ending June 2022 and year ending June 2023 are not directly comparable for this occupation due to an incomplete comparison year.
- Senior care workers became eligible for the 바카라 사이트˜Skilled Worker바카라 사이트™ visa when it went live in December 2020 and were added to the list of eligible occupations for the 바카라 사이트˜Skilled Worker - Health and Care바카라 사이트™ visa in January 2021.
1.2 바카라 사이트˜Temporary Worker바카라 사이트™ visas
The 바카라 사이트˜Temporary Worker바카라 사이트™ category relates to short-term work visas which do not typically lead to settlement.
Grants of 바카라 사이트˜Temporary Worker바카라 사이트™ visas to main applicants in the year ending June 2023 increased by 7% (+4,926) to 75,166, compared to the previous year. The overall rise in 바카라 사이트˜Temporary Worker바카라 사이트™ visas when compared with before the pandemic is largely accounted for by the increase in 바카라 사이트˜Seasonal Worker바카라 사이트™ visas, which allow seasonal horticulture or poultry production work. The route launched in March 2019 with a yearly quota of 2,500, which has since increased to 47,000 in 2023.
Grants for 바카라 사이트˜Seasonal Worker바카라 사이트™ visas decreased by 18% (-7,122) to 32,750 compared with the previous year, primarily due to a fall in Ukrainian nationals. See section 1.5 for more details.
Figure 3: 바카라 사이트˜Temporary Worker바카라 사이트™ visas granted to main applicants between the year ending June 2019 and the year ending June 2023
Source: Entry clearance visa applications and outcomes 바카라 사이트“ Vis_D02
Figure 3 shows that grants to 바카라 사이트˜Youth Mobility Scheme바카라 사이트™ visas have increased by 71% (+9,427) in the past year and have now returned to pre-pandemic levels. The scheme provides a cultural exchange programme that allows young people from participating countries and territories to experience life in the UK and was significantly impacted by global travel restrictions from the COVID-19 pandemic.
1.3 All other work-related visas
The 바카라 사이트˜Investor, business development and talent바카라 사이트™ category includes the 바카라 사이트˜Global Talent바카라 사이트™, 바카라 사이트˜Innovator Founder바카라 사이트™, and 바카라 사이트˜Start-up바카라 사이트™ visas, and the closed Tier 1 routes. In the year ending June 2023:
- there was a 76% rise (+1,679) in 바카라 사이트˜Global Talent바카라 사이트™ visas to 3,901 grants, a route for people who have exceptional talent or exceptional promise in the field of science, engineering, humanities, medicine, digital technology or arts and culture
- there was an 88% rise (+231) in 바카라 사이트˜Innovator Founder바카라 사이트™ visas to 494 grants, for a person seeking to establish a business in the UK based on a business idea they have either generated or significantly contributed to
- there was a 19% rise (+79) for the 바카라 사이트˜Start-Up바카라 사이트™ visa with 492 grants, for a person seeking to establish a business in the UK for the first time, which subsequently closed in July 2023 following the expansion of the 바카라 사이트˜Innovator바카라 사이트™ route in April 2023
Additionally, 바카라 사이트˜Overseas Domestic Worker바카라 사이트™ visas granted rose by 14% in the last year to 19,780 grants.
1.4 Graduate route
The Graduate route was introduced on 1 July 2021 and allows students who have successfully completed a bachelor바카라 사이트™s degree, postgraduate degree or other eligible course to stay in the UK for a period after their studies to work or look for work. It is an in-country visa and therefore allows the student to apply for a visa extension from the UK, without returning overseas.
A total of 98,394 Graduate route extensions were granted to previous students in the year ending June 2023, 74% (+41,936) higher than in the year prior. Indian nationals represented the largest group of students granted leave to remain on the Graduate route, representing 42% of grants.
1.5 Work visas by nationality
Indian nationals were the top nationality for visas in the 바카라 사이트˜Worker바카라 사이트™ category, representing almost one-third (31%) of grants, and were by far the top nationality for both the 바카라 사이트˜Skilled Worker바카라 사이트™ and 바카라 사이트˜Skilled Worker - Health and Care바카라 사이트™ visas.
In the year ending June 2022, Ukraine was the largest nationality granted 바카라 사이트˜Seasonal Worker바카라 사이트™ visas, representing 35% of grants. However, applications from Ukrainians have seen a notable drop following the war in Ukraine, with grants falling by 10,966 (-78%) in the latest year to 3,171. Additionally, grants to Russian nationals have fallen from 1,621 to 29, and grants to Belarusian nationals have fallen from 357 to 6, due to a fall in applications from travel restrictions. For further details on Ukrainian nationals, see the 바카라 사이트˜Statistics on Ukrainians in the UK바카라 사이트™ topic.
Table 3: Top 3 nationalities1 of selected visas granted to main applicants in the year ending June 2023
| Work visa group | Year ending June 2022 |
Year ending June 2023 |
Change | Percentage change |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Worker | Â | Â | Â | Â |
| 바카라 사이트ƒ Skilled Worker | 51,811 | 69,421 | +17,610 | +34% |
| 바카라 사이트ƒ India | 17,256 | 20,228 | +2,972 | +17% |
| 바카라 사이트ƒ United States | 3,412 | 3,772 | +360 | +11% |
| 바카라 사이트ƒ Pakistan | 1,180 | 3,394 | +2,214 | +188% |
| 바카라 사이트ƒ Health and Care Worker | 47,194 | 121,290 | +74,096 | +157% |
| 바카라 사이트ƒ India | 18,570 | 33,669 | +15,099 | +81% |
| 바카라 사이트ƒ Nigeria | 6,125 | 22,278 | +16,153 | +264% |
| 바카라 사이트ƒ Zimbabwe | 4,270 | 20,152 | +15,882 | +372% |
| Temporary Worker | Â | Â | Â | Â |
| 바카라 사이트ƒ Seasonal Worker | 39,872 | 32,750 | -7,122 | -18% |
| 바카라 사이트ƒ Kyrgyzstan | 2,732 | 7,460 | +4,728 | +173% |
| 바카라 사이트ƒ Tajikistan | 3,852 | 4,974 | +1,122 | +29% |
| 바카라 사이트ƒ Kazakhstan | 1,921 | 4,893 | +2,972 | +155% |
Source: Entry clearance visa applications and outcomes 바카라 사이트“ Vis_D02
Notes:
- Top 3 nationalities in the most recent year.
In the year ending June 2023, there were 27,209 work-related visas granted to main applicants from EEA and Swiss nationals, 3% lower (-876) than compared with the previous year.
2. Dependants of work visa holders
For most types of work visas, visa holders are able to bring partners and children (바카라 사이트˜dependants바카라 사이트™) to the UK.
In the year ending June 2023 there were 217,786 grants to dependants of people who had been granted a work visa. This was almost double (+99%) the number of grants compared to the year ending June 2022.
The proportion of all work-related visas granted to dependants was 40%, compared to 33% in the preceding year. On average, there were 0.7 dependants granted per main applicant on a 바카라 사이트˜Skilled Worker바카라 사이트™ visa, whilst there were 1.1 dependants granted per main applicant on a 바카라 사이트˜Skilled Worker 바카라 사이트“ Health and Care바카라 사이트™ visa.
Figure 4: Visas granted to dependants of work visa holders by visa route, and the proportion of all work-related visas granted to dependants between the year ending June 2019 and the year ending June 2023
Source: Entry clearance visa applications and outcomes 바카라 사이트“ Vis_D02
Notes:
- The 바카라 사이트˜Skilled Worker바카라 사이트™ and 바카라 사이트˜Skilled Worker 바카라 사이트“ Health and Care바카라 사이트™ visas were introduced in 2020 and together replaced the 바카라 사이트˜Tier 2 바카라 사이트“ General바카라 사이트™ visa.
Figure 4 shows that in the year ending June 2023, there were 189,629 grants to both dependants of 바카라 사이트˜Skilled Worker바카라 사이트™ (51,630) and 바카라 사이트˜Skilled Worker - Health and Care바카라 사이트™ visas (137,999).
2.1 Nationalities of dependants on work-related visas
Indian nationals represented 38% of visas granted to dependants of work visa holders. This is reflective that India was the top nationality granted 바카라 사이트˜Skilled Worker바카라 사이트™ and 바카라 사이트˜Skilled Worker 바카라 사이트“ Health and Care바카라 사이트™ visas for main applicants, with the majority of work-related dependants being granted on these 2 routes.
Table 4: Top 3 nationalities1 of dependants granted 바카라 사이트˜Skilled Worker바카라 사이트™, 바카라 사이트˜Skilled Worker 바카라 사이트“ Health and Care바카라 사이트™ visas, and of the total work dependants granted
| Nationality | Year ending June 2022 | Year ending June 2023 | Change | Percentage change |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Skilled Worker | 35,172 | 51,630 | +16,458 | +47% |
| 바카라 사이트ƒ India | 16,851 | 22,799 | +5,948 | +35% |
| 바카라 사이트ƒ Pakistan | 1,375 | 3,564 | +2,189 | +159% |
| 바카라 사이트ƒ United States | 2,205 | 2,396 | +191 | +9% |
| Health and Care Worker | 48,973 | 137,999 | +89,026 | +182% |
| 바카라 사이트ƒ India | 24,348 | 45,943 | +21,595 | +89% |
| 바카라 사이트ƒ Nigeria | 7,452 | 35,330 | +27,878 | +374% |
| 바카라 사이트ƒ Zimbabwe | 3,451 | 17,870 | +14,419 | +418% |
| Total work dependants | 109,419 | 217,786 | +108,367 | +99% |
| 바카라 사이트ƒ India | 55,753 | 83,073 | +27,320 | +49% |
| 바카라 사이트ƒ Nigeria | 8,945 | 37,978 | +29,033 | +325% |
| 바카라 사이트ƒ Zimbabwe | 3,772 | 18,546 | +14,774 | +392% |
Source: Entry clearance visa applications and outcomes 바카라 사이트“ Vis_D02
Notes:
- Top 3 nationalities in the most recent year.
3. Certificates of Sponsorship (CoS) used for sponsored work visas (main applicants)
A CoS is considered 바카라 사이트˜used바카라 사이트™ when an applicant receives a decision on their visa application.
In the year ending June 2023, there was a total of 271,523 Certificates of Sponsorship (CoS) 바카라 사이트˜used바카라 사이트™ for (main applicant) 바카라 사이트˜Worker바카라 사이트™ and 바카라 사이트˜Temporary Worker바카라 사이트™ visa applications, 57% (+98,760) more than in the year ending June 2022.
Of these there were 213,280 CoS used for 바카라 사이트˜Worker바카라 사이트™ visas, which accounted for 79% of the total CoS used for visas.
Figure 5: Top 5 work sectors1 for Certificates of Sponsorship (CoS) used as part of visa applications for 바카라 사이트˜Worker바카라 사이트™ visas, in the year ending September 20192, June 2022, and June 2023
Source: Work Sponsorship (Certificate of Sponsorship) 바카라 사이트“ CoS_D01
Notes:
- Top 5 work sectors in the most recent year.
- Pre-pandemic comparisons are made with the year ending September 2019, due to data quality issues between October to December 2019 and April to June 2020. See section 4.3 for details.
Figure 5 shows that 바카라 사이트˜Human Health and Social Work Activities바카라 사이트™ was the largest sector for CoS used in the year ending June 2023 for 바카라 사이트˜Worker바카라 사이트™ visas, representing over half (56%).
바카라 사이트˜Human Health and Social work바카라 사이트™ CoS used for 바카라 사이트˜Worker바카라 사이트™ visas have almost tripled (+182%) in the last year, while they are almost 8 times larger (+682%) than in the year ending September 2019, before the COVID-19 pandemic.
4. About these statistics
The statistics in this section provide an indication of the number of people who have an intention to enter the UK for work reasons.
Before 2021, due to freedom of movement for European Union (EU) nationals, the vast majority of UK immigration control statistics related to non-European Economic Area (EEA) nationals. From 2021, unless otherwise stated, the statistics in this release relate to both EEA and non-EEA nationals.
Entry clearance visas allow an individual to enter and stay in the UK within the period for which the visa is valid. Data in this section refer to the number of Entry clearance visas granted for work reasons within the period. If an individual was granted a visa more than once in a given period, this has been counted as multiple grants in the statistics.
Year-on-year comparisons of the number of decisions can be affected by quarterly fluctuations in the data. These fluctuations can be examined in the quarterly data in the published tables. Year ending comparisons will also include impacts resulting from the travel restrictions put in place during the COVID-19 pandemic.
4.1 Worker
The 바카라 사이트˜Worker바카라 사이트™ visa category includes sponsored work visas which typically lead to settlement, and is the main visa category for skilled workers.
These visas are Tier 2 routes from the Old Points Based system and their successors: the Skilled Worker, Skilled Worker - Health and Care, 바카라 사이트˜Intra-company Transfer바카라 사이트™ and International Sportsperson visas. The Senior or Specialist Worker visa, introduced in April 2022 as part of the new Global Business Mobility routes, has also been included as the successor to the 바카라 사이트˜Intra-company Transfer바카라 사이트™ visa. Additionally, the Scale-up Worker visa, which launched in August 2022, is included in this category.
4.2 Temporary Worker
The 바카라 사이트˜Temporary Worker바카라 사이트™ visa type includes shorter-term work visas which do not typically lead to settlement.
Tier 5 was implemented in November 2008 to provide a route for those coming to the UK for primarily non-economic reasons. The Tier 5 routes were then closed at the end of 2020 and replaced by equivalent 바카라 사이트˜Youth Mobility Scheme바카라 사이트™ and 바카라 사이트˜Temporary Worker바카라 사이트™ routes.
The Seasonal Worker route was opened to new applicants from January 2019. The quota has increased in each year from 2,500 visas in 2019 to a current quota of 47,000 visas in 2023.
The Creative Worker visa launched in October 2021 and replaces the creative element of the Tier 5 (Creative and Sporting) visa.
The UK Expansion Worker, Secondment Worker, Service Supplier, and Graduate Trainee visas from the Global Business Mobility routes, launched in April 2022, are also included in this visa category.
4.3 Certificate of sponsorship (CoS)
From October to December 2019, the method for extracting in-country and out-of-country Certificates of Sponsorship (CoS) data changed. Data quality issues identified as part of this change in methodology has meant that some cases from October to December 2019 onwards are unable to be separately identified as either a visa or extension case, and so have been categorised as 바카라 사이트˜unknown바카라 사이트™.
Applicants for 바카라 사이트˜Worker바카라 사이트™ and 바카라 사이트˜Temporary Worker바카라 사이트™ visas (and extensions) must obtain a certificate of sponsorship (CoS) from a registered employer. Any organisation that wishes to sponsor a worker must be registered on the Home Office바카라 사이트™s Register of Sponsors.
Further information about the CoS allocation process is given in the user guide and on the UK visa sponsorship for employers section of 바카라 사이트.
4.4 Other sources
Until 2020, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) published long-term international migration (LTIM) estimates in its 바카라 사이트˜바카라 사이트™ (latest data available is for the year ending March 2020). The ONS are revising their methods for measuring population and migration but have released for the year ending December 2022.
5. Data tables
Data on immigration for work can be found in the following tables:
- Sponsorship summary tables
- Detailed sponsorship datasets
- Detailed occupation datasets
- Entry clearance visas summary tables
- Detailed Entry clearance visas datasets
- Admissions summary tables
- Extensions summary tables
- Detailed Extensions datasets
We welcome your feedback
If you have any comments or suggestions for the development of this report, please provide feedback by emailing MigrationStatsEnquiries@homeoffice.gov.uk. Please include the words 바카라 사이트˜PUBLICATION FEEDBACK바카라 사이트™ in the subject of your email.
We바카라 사이트™re always looking to improve the accessibility of our documents. If you find any problems or have any feedback relating to accessibility, please email us.
See section 6 of the 바카라 사이트˜About this release바카라 사이트™ section for more details.