Why do people come to the UK? To work
Updated 7 December 2023
© Crown copyright 2023
This publication is licensed under the terms of the Open 바카라 사이트 Licence v3.0 except where otherwise stated. To view this licence, visit or write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gov.uk.
Where we have identified any third party copyright information you will need to obtain permission from the copyright holders concerned.
This publication is available at /government/statistics/immigration-system-statistics-year-ending-september-2023/why-do-people-come-to-the-uk-to-work
Back to 바카라 사이트˜Immigration system statistics, year ending September 2023바카라 사이트™ content page.
This is not the latest release. View latest release.
Data relates to the year ending September 2023 and all comparisons are with the year ending September 2022 (unless indicated otherwise).
1. Work visas granted to main applicants
There were 335,447 work visas granted to main applicants in the year ending September 2023, 35% higher than in the year ending September 2022, and two and half times more (+150%) than prior to the pandemic in the year ending September 2019
The recent increase is due to a number of factors, including changes in the immigration rules following the UK바카라 사이트™s departure from the European Union, the changing needs of the UK labour market, and changes in travel and migration intentions following the pandemic. Further information on recent visa trends can be found in the article 바카라 사이트˜Recent changes to visa numbers in Home Office data바카라 사이트™ (Home Office, February 2023).
Figure 1: Work visas granted to main applicants between the year ending September 2014 and the year ending September 2023
Source: Entry clearance visa applications and outcomes 바카라 사이트“ Vis_D02
Notes:
- Work visa types are denoted by solid lines whilst the 바카라 사이트˜Skilled Worker 바카라 사이트“ Health and Care바카라 사이트™ visa, which forms part of the 바카라 사이트˜Worker바카라 사이트™ category, is denoted by a dashed line and includes data from the first full year of the visa. The visa was introduced in 2020, along with the 바카라 사이트˜Skilled Worker바카라 사이트™ visa, and together replaced the 바카라 사이트˜Tier 2- General바카라 사이트™ visa, previously the main route in the 바카라 사이트˜Worker바카라 사이트™ category.
- 바카라 사이트˜Other skilled routes바카라 사이트™ includes the other visa routes in the 바카라 사이트˜Worker바카라 사이트™ category바카라 사이트™ such as the 바카라 사이트˜Skilled Worker바카라 사이트™ and the 바카라 사이트˜Senior or Specialist Worker바카라 사이트™ visa.
Figure 1 shows that grants decreased in all work visa categories following the COVID-19 pandemic. Grants in the 바카라 사이트˜Worker바카라 사이트™ visa category increased throughout 2022 and this growth has continued in 2023 due to increases in 바카라 사이트˜Skilled Worker - Health and Care바카라 사이트™ visas.
Table 1: Work visas granted to main applicants by work visa type
| Work visa type | Year ending September 2022 | Year ending September 2023 | Change | Percentage change |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Worker (of which:) | 144,909 | 229,817 | +84,908 | +59% |
| 바카라 사이트ƒ Skilled Worker | 61,084 | 66,322 | +5,238 | +9% |
| 바카라 사이트ƒ Health and Care 바카라 사이트ƒ Worker |
61,274 | 143,990 | +82,716 | +135% |
| 바카라 사이트ƒ Other 바카라 사이트˜Worker바카라 사이트™1 바카라 사이트ƒ visas |
22,551 | 19,505 | -3,046 | -14% |
| Temporary Worker | 72,832 | 72,895 | +63 | +0% |
| Investor, business development and talent | 3,401 | 5,116 | +1,715 | +50% |
| Other work visas and exemptions2 | 27,142 | 27,649 | +507 | +2% |
| Total | 248,284 | 335,447 | +87,193 | +35% |
Source: Entry clearance visa applications and outcomes 바카라 사이트“ Vis_D02
Notes:
- Predominantly 바카라 사이트˜Intra-company Transfer바카라 사이트™ visas and their successor 바카라 사이트˜Senior or Specialist Worker바카라 사이트™ visas, introduced in April 2022.
- 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.
Analysis from the Migrant Journey: 2022 report shows that around three-quarters of those arriving on work routes had expired leave 5 years later, suggesting most workers do not remain in the UK indefinitely. However, this varies by route. 바카라 사이트˜Temporary workers바카라 사이트™ stay in the UK for shorter periods and rarely go on to get indefinite leave to remain (ILR), while those on the 바카라 사이트˜Worker바카라 사이트™ and 바카라 사이트˜Investor, business development and talent바카라 사이트™ routes are more likely to hold valid leave after 5 years and go on to get ILR.
1.1 바카라 사이트˜Worker바카라 사이트™ visas
The 바카라 사이트˜Worker바카라 사이트™ visa category covers sponsored work visas and is the main category for skilled workers including visas granted to allow people to come to the UK for work in health and care professions. These typically provide a route to settlement in the UK.
바카라 사이트˜Worker바카라 사이트™ visas granted to main applicants have increased by 59% in the year ending September 2023 compared with the previous year, primarily due to Health and Care Worker visa grants more than doubling (+135%)
While 바카라 사이트˜Skilled Worker바카라 사이트™ visas have only seen a modest rise in the past year (+9%), 바카라 사이트˜Skilled Worker 바카라 사이트“ Health and Care바카라 사이트™ visa grants have more than doubled (+135%) to 143,990. Indian, Nigerian, and Zimbabwean nationals saw the largest increases on this visa compared with the previous year.
Table 2: Top 3 nationalities1 of 바카라 사이트˜Skilled Worker바카라 사이트™ and 바카라 사이트˜Skilled Worker - Health and Care바카라 사이트™ visas granted to main applicants in the year ending September 2023
| Nationality | Year ending September 2022 |
Year ending September 2023 |
Change | Percentage change |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Skilled Worker | 61,084 | 66,322 | +5,238 | +9% |
| India | 20,360 | 18,107 | -2,253 | -11% |
| Pakistan | 1,626 | 4,230 | 2,604 | +160% |
| Philippines | 2,138 | 3,582 | +1,444 | +68% |
| Health and Care Worker | 61,274 | 143,990 | +82,716 | +135% |
| India | 22,138 | 38,866 | +16,728 | +76% |
| Nigeria | 8,491 | 26,715 | +18,224 | +215% |
| Zimbabwe | 7,846 | 21,130 | +13,284 | +169% |
Source: Entry clearance visa applications and outcomes 바카라 사이트“ Vis_D02
Notes:
- Top 3 nationalities in the most recent year.
The 바카라 사이트˜Care workers and home carers바카라 사이트™ inclusion in February 2022 accounted for the vast majority of the increase in 바카라 사이트˜Skilled Worker 바카라 사이트“ Health and Care바카라 사이트™ visas compared with the previous year, representing 83,072 grants in the year ending September 2023
The latest increase in 바카라 사이트˜Skilled Worker 바카라 사이트“ Health and Care바카라 사이트™ visas follows its expansion in late 2021 for 바카라 사이트˜Care workers and home carers바카라 사이트™ and 바카라 사이트˜Senior care workers바카라 사이트™ to boost the adult social care workforce.
In the latest year, 바카라 사이트˜Care workers and home carers바카라 사이트™ accounted for over half (58%) of 바카라 사이트˜Skilled Worker 바카라 사이트“ Health and Care바카라 사이트™ visas granted.
Table 3: Visas granted in selected health and care occupations under the 바카라 사이트˜Skilled Worker - Health and Care바카라 사이트™ visa
| Occupation | Year ending September 2022 | Year ending September 2023 | Change | Percentage change |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Medical practitioners | 8,053 | 9,116 | +1,063 | +13% |
| Nurses | 25,360 | 23,810 | -1,550 | -6% |
| Care workers and home carers1 | 8,619 | 83,072 | n/a1 | n/a1 |
| Senior care workers2 | 13,623 | 18,244 | +4,621 | +34% |
Source: Sponsored work entry clearance visas by occupation and industry 바카라 사이트“ Occ_D02
Notes:
- 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 September 2022 and year ending September 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.
Figure 2: 바카라 사이트˜Skilled Worker 바카라 사이트“ Health and Care바카라 사이트™ visas granted in the year ending September 2023, broken down occupation and nationality
Source: Sponsored work entry clearance visas by occupation and industry 바카라 사이트“ Occ_D02
Figure 2 shows that Nigerian (17,798), Indian (17,253) and Zimbabwean (16,619) nationals together represented more than 6 in 10 (62%) of visas granted to work in 바카라 사이트˜Care workers and home carer바카라 사이트™ occupations in the year ending September 2023.
Additionally, almost half (49%) of grants for 바카라 사이트˜Nurses바카라 사이트™ were to Indian nationals with 11,593 grants, and Indian nationals represented just over a third (34%) of 바카라 사이트˜Senior care workers바카라 사이트™ with 6,187 grants.
1.2 바카라 사이트˜Temporary Worker바카라 사이트™ visas
The 바카라 사이트˜Temporary Worker바카라 사이트™ category relates to short-term work visas such as seasonal workers and the 바카라 사이트˜Youth Mobility Scheme바카라 사이트™. In the year ending September 2023, 42% of 바카라 사이트˜Temporary Worker바카라 사이트™ visas were for seasonal work, 32% were for the 바카라 사이트˜Youth Mobility Scheme바카라 사이트™ and the remaining 26% were for other temporary work. Temporary work visas do not typically provide a route to settlement.
The number of 바카라 사이트˜Temporary Worker바카라 사이트™ visas grants to main applicants in the year ending September 2023 was similar to the previous year at 72,895.
Figure 3: 바카라 사이트˜Temporary Worker바카라 사이트™ visas granted to main applicants between the year ending September 2019 and the year ending September 2023
Source: Entry clearance visa applications and outcomes 바카라 사이트“ Vis_D02
Figure 3 shows that grants of 바카라 사이트˜Seasonal Worker바카라 사이트™ visas, which allow seasonal horticulture or poultry production work, decreased by 21% (-8,280) to 30,460 compared with the previous year, which was primarily due to a fall in Ukrainian nationals. The 바카라 사이트˜Seasonal Worker바카라 사이트™ route was launched in March 2019 with the number of visas that could be granted limited to 2,500 per year. This has since increased to 47,000 in 2023.
Table 4: Top 5 nationalities1 of 바카라 사이트˜Seasonal Worker바카라 사이트™ visas granted to main applicants in the year ending September 2023
| Nationality | Year ending September 2022 |
Year ending September 2023 |
Change | Percentage change |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kyrgyzstan | 4,297 | 7,233 | +2,936 | +68% |
| Tajikistan | 4,295 | 5,148 | +853 | +20% |
| Kazakhstan | 2,679 | 4,430 | +1,751 | +65% |
| Uzbekistan | 4,199 | 3,923 | -276 | -7% |
| Ukraine2 | 9,741 | 2,580 | -7,161 | -74% |
| Other nationalities | 13,529 | 7,146 | -6,383 | -47% |
| Seasonal Worker | 38,740 | 30,460 | -8,280 | -21% |
Source: Entry clearance visa applications and outcomes 바카라 사이트“ Vis_D02
Notes:
- Top 5 nationalities in the most recent year.
- In the latest year, the majority of Ukrainian nationals applied from outside of Ukraine due to the ongoing war in Ukraine.
In the year ending September 2022, Ukraine was the largest nationality granted 바카라 사이트˜Seasonal Worker바카라 사이트™ visas, representing 25% of grants. However, applications from Ukrainians have seen a notable drop following the war in Ukraine, with grants falling by 7,161 (-74%) in the latest year to 2,580, and now represent just 8% of grants. For further details on Ukrainian nationals, see the 바카라 사이트˜Safe and legal (humanitarian) routes to the UK바카라 사이트™ chapter.
Grants of 바카라 사이트˜Youth Mobility Scheme바카라 사이트™ visas have increased by 53% (+8,051) 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.
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 September 2023:
- there was a 58% rise (+1,492) in 바카라 사이트˜Global Talent바카라 사이트™ visas to 4,046 grants; this is a route for people who have exceptional talent or promise in the field of science, engineering, humanities, medicine, digital technology or arts and culture
- 바카라 사이트˜Innovator Founder바카라 사이트™ visas more than doubled (+107%; +269) to 520 grants; this is a route 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 22% rise (+78) for the 바카라 사이트˜Start-Up바카라 사이트™ visa with 440 grants; this is a route for a person seeking to establish a business in the UK for the first time, which closed in July 2023 following the expansion of the 바카라 사이트˜Innovator바카라 사이트™ route in April 2023
Additionally, the number of 바카라 사이트˜Overseas Domestic Worker바카라 사이트™ visas granted rose by 9% in the last year to 19,879 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 104,501 Graduate route extensions were granted to main applicants in the year ending September 2023, 74% (+44,369) higher than in the previous year. Indian nationals represented the largest group of students granted leave to remain on the Graduate route, representing 43% of grants.
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 September 2023 there were 250,297 grants to dependants of people who had been granted a work visa
The proportion of all work-related visas granted to dependants was 43%, compared to 35% in the preceding year.
Work-related dependants were 89% higher than in the previous year, and over 4 times higher (+361%) than prior to the pandemic in the year ending September 2019.
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 September 2019 and the year ending September 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 September 2023, there were 224,770 grants to both dependants of 바카라 사이트˜Skilled Worker바카라 사이트™ (50,874, 20% of the total) and 바카라 사이트˜Skilled Worker - Health and Care바카라 사이트™ visas (173,896, 69% of the total).
For Skilled Worker visas specifically, 43% of visa grants were to dependants and 57% were to main applicants. Dependants on 바카라 사이트˜Skilled Worker 바카라 사이트“ Health and Care바카라 사이트™ visas accounted for 55% of grants on that visa, with 45% from main applicants.
2.1 Nationalities of dependants on work-related visas
Indian nationals represented 35% 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 5: 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 September 2022 | Year ending September 2023 | Change | Percentage change |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Skilled Worker | 41,827 | 50,874 | +9,047 | +22% |
| 바카라 사이트ƒ India | 19,823 | 21,577 | +1,754 | +9% |
| 바카라 사이트ƒ Pakistan | 1,842 | 4,537 | +2,695 | +146% |
| 바카라 사이트ƒ United States | 2,353 | 2,209 | -144 | -6% |
| Health and Care Worker | 62,794 | 173,896 | +111,102 | +177% |
| 바카라 사이트ƒ India | 28,905 | 52,992 | +24,087 | +83% |
| 바카라 사이트ƒ Nigeria | 10,533 | 45,203 | +34,670 | +329% |
| 바카라 사이트ƒ Zimbabwe | 6,302 | 21,429 | +15,127 | +240% |
| Total work dependants | 132,147 | 250,297 | +118,150 | +89% |
| 바카라 사이트ƒ India | 64,510 | 86,789 | +22,279 | +35% |
| 바카라 사이트ƒ Nigeria | 12,391 | 47,795 | +35,404 | +286% |
| 바카라 사이트ƒ Zimbabwe | 6,701 | 22,235 | +15,534 | +232% |
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)
All visa applications in the 바카라 사이트˜Worker바카라 사이트™ and 바카라 사이트˜Temporary Worker바카라 사이트™ (excluding Youth Mobility Scheme) work categories require a 바카라 사이트˜certificate of sponsorship바카라 사이트™ (CoS) from the applicant바카라 사이트™s perspective employer as evidence of their job offer. A CoS is considered 바카라 사이트˜used바카라 사이트™ when an applicant receives a decision on their visa application. Dependants are not required to apply for a CoS.
In the year ending September 2023, there was a total of 285,679 Certificates of Sponsorship (CoS) 바카라 사이트˜used바카라 사이트™, 42% (+84,605) more than the previous year. Most (81%) of these were used for 바카라 사이트˜Worker바카라 사이트™ visa applications.
Figure 5: Top 5 sectors1 in which a certificate of sponsorship (CoS) was used as part of a visa application for 바카라 사이트˜Worker바카라 사이트™ visas, in the year ending September 2023 compared to September 2022
Source: Work Sponsorship (Certificate of Sponsorship) 바카라 사이트“ CoS_D01
Notes:
- Top 5 work sectors in the most recent year.
Figure 5 shows that 바카라 사이트˜Human Health and Social Work Activities바카라 사이트™ was the largest sector for CoS used in the year ending September 2023 for 바카라 사이트˜Worker바카라 사이트™ visas, representing over half (61%).
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 refers 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
The Office for National Statistics (ONS) publish . These are statistics under development that estimate the number of people immigrating to and emigrating from the UK for 12 months or more.
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.