Why do people come to the UK? To work
Published 29 February 2024
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Back to 바카라 사이트˜Immigration system statistics, year ending December 2023바카라 사이트™ content page.
This is not the latest release. View latest release.
Data relates to 2023 and all comparisons are with 2022 (unless indicated otherwise). All data includes dependants, unless indicated otherwise.
1. Work-related visas
Having risen after the 2008 recession, the number of work visas granted were relatively stable across all work categories prior to the COVID-19 pandemic. Following the end of the pandemic and the UK바카라 사이트™s departure of the EU, the number of work visas granted increased, with 바카라 사이트˜Skilled Worker 바카라 사이트“ Health and Care바카라 사이트™ visa numbers in particular growing sharply, following the expansion of the route in late 2021 to boost the social care workforce. The growth in this route has caused a large increase in the number of work-related dependants granted, with the majority of grants for dependants in the latest 2 years being on the 바카라 사이트˜Skilled Worker 바카라 사이트“ Health and Care바카라 사이트™ visa.
Since 2021, other skilled work routes and 바카라 사이트˜Temporary Worker바카라 사이트™ visas also increased, but have levelled off in the latest year. 바카라 사이트˜Investor, business development and talent바카라 사이트™ visas and also 바카라 사이트˜Other work바카라 사이트™ visas have remained similar to pre-pandemic levels.
1.1 Main applicants
There were 337,240 work visas granted to main applicants in 2023, 26% higher than in 2022, and almost two and half times more (+146%) than prior to the pandemic in 2019. This was largely driven by 바카라 사이트˜Care workers and home carers바카라 사이트™ in the 바카라 사이트˜Health and Care Worker바카라 사이트™ route.
Figure 1: Work visas granted to main applicants between 2010 and 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 route was introduced in 2020, along with the 바카라 사이트˜Skilled Worker바카라 사이트™ visa, and together replaced the 바카라 사이트˜Tier 2- General바카라 사이트™ visa, the main route from the 바카라 사이트˜Worker바카라 사이트™ category.
- 바카라 사이트˜Other skilled routes바카라 사이트™ includes the other visa routes in the 바카라 사이트˜Worker바카라 사이트™ category such as the 바카라 사이트˜Skilled Worker바카라 사이트™ and the 바카라 사이트˜Senior or Specialist Worker바카라 사이트™ visa.
Figure 1 shows that 바카라 사이트˜Skilled Worker 바카라 사이트“ Health and Care바카라 사이트™ visas provided the vast majority of the growth in work visas in the latest year, almost doubling (+91%) to 146,477, compared with 2022. Whilst 바카라 사이트˜Skilled Worker- Health and Care바카라 사이트™ visa grants have been growing sharply over recent quarters, there are some indications that the rate of growth has slowed and that the numbers are beginning to fall. The number of grants in quarter 4 (October to December) 2023 fell by 37%, compared to quarter 3 (July to September) 2023, to 28,467. This reduction occurred across all the main occupations of health and care workers 바카라 사이트“ with 바카라 사이트˜Care workers and home carers바카라 사이트™ down 41% (-12,304), 바카라 사이트˜Senior care workers바카라 사이트™ down 41% (-1,884) and 바카라 사이트˜Nurses바카라 사이트™ down 24% (-1,474). Whilst we would expect to see a reduction in visas granted for work in quarter 4 compared to quarter 3, the reduction in 2023 was much larger than the typical seasonality seen pre-pandemic.
바카라 사이트˜Other skilled routes바카라 사이트™ (including the 바카라 사이트˜Skilled Worker바카라 사이트™ and 바카라 사이트˜Senior or Specialist Worker바카라 사이트™), in contrast, have fallen slightly over the past year (-6%).
바카라 사이트˜Care workers and home carers바카라 사이트™ 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 89,236 grants in 2023.
Table 1: Visas granted in occupations under the 바카라 사이트˜Skilled Worker - Health and Care바카라 사이트™ visa - main applicants
| Occupation | 2022 | 2023 | Change | Percentage change |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Medical practitioners | 8,578 | 8,938 | +360 | +4% |
| Nurses | 25,722 | 22,336 | -3,386 | -13% |
| Care workers and home carers1 | 19,864 | 89,236 | +69,3721 | +349%1 |
| Senior care workers2 | 15,742 | 16,645 | +903 | +6% |
| Other and unknown3 | 6,818 | 9,322 | +2,504 | +37% |
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, and therefore it should be noted that 2022 is not a full 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.
- Includes other occupations, and a small number of visas which couldn바카라 사이트™t be matched to an occupation.
Figure 2: 바카라 사이트˜Skilled Worker 바카라 사이트“ Health and Care바카라 사이트™ visas granted in 2023, broken down by occupation and nationality
Source: Sponsored work entry clearance visas by occupation and industry 바카라 사이트“ Occ_D02
Notes:
- 바카라 사이트˜Other and unknown바카라 사이트™ includes other occupations, and a small number of visas which couldn바카라 사이트™t be matched to an occupation.
Figure 2 shows that Indian (18,664), Nigerian (18,143) and Zimbabwean (15,279) nationals together represented almost 6 in 10 (58%) of visas granted to 바카라 사이트˜Care workers and home carer바카라 사이트™ occupations in 2023. Over half (51%) of grants for 바카라 사이트˜Nurses바카라 사이트™ were to Indian nationals with 11,322 grants, and Indian nationals represented just under a third (32%) of 바카라 사이트˜Senior care workers바카라 사이트™ with 5,301 grants.
According to the Labour Force Survey statistics from October to December 2023, published in the , the number of non-UK nationals working in the UK has increased by 292,000 (+7%) in the past year to 4.49 million. There were an estimated 2.29 million non-EU nationals working in the UK, 254,000 higher (+12%) than a year earlier and an estimated 2.20 million EU nationals working in the UK, 38,000 higher (+2%) than a year earlier.
1.2 Dependants
In 2023, there were 279,131 grants to dependants of people who had been granted a work visa, 80% higher than in 2022, and over 5 times higher (+403%) than prior to the pandemic in 2019.
There were 52,099 grants to 바카라 사이트˜Skilled Worker바카라 사이트™ dependants and 203,452 grants to 바카라 사이트˜Skilled Worker 바카라 사이트“ Health and Care바카라 사이트™ dependants. These 2 routes together represented 92% of all work-related dependants in 2023.
Out of all the work visas granted in 2023 (including main applicants), 45% were granted to dependants. This proportion is an increase from 37% in the previous year and 29% in 2019, before the pandemic.
Figure 3: Visas granted to dependants of work visa holders by visa route, between 2019 and 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 3 shows that the rise in work dependants in 2023 was due to an increase in 바카라 사이트˜Skilled Worker 바카라 사이트“ Health and Care바카라 사이트™ visas. Health and Care workers bringing their dependants now account for 73% of all work dependant visas granted, in comparison to 52% in the previous year. The rise in dependants on this route corresponds to the rise in main applicants, with this route bringing a proportionally high number of dependants.
In 2023, dependants represented 58% of all 바카라 사이트˜Skilled Worker 바카라 사이트“ Health and Care바카라 사이트™ visas granted and 44% of 바카라 사이트˜Skilled Worker바카라 사이트™ visas. These proportions have risen slightly compared to the previous year (51% and 41%, respectively, in 2022). In comparison, in 2019, dependants accounted for 42% of 바카라 사이트˜Tier 2 바카라 사이트“ General바카라 사이트™ visas granted (which was replaced by the 바카라 사이트˜Skilled Worker바카라 사이트™ routes).
1.3 Temporary workers
In 2023, 44% of 바카라 사이트˜Temporary Worker바카라 사이트™ main applicant visas were for seasonal work, 30% were for the 바카라 사이트˜Youth Mobility Scheme바카라 사이트™ and the remaining 26% were for other temporary work.
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.
The number of 바카라 사이트˜Temporary Worker바카라 사이트™ visas granted to main applicants in 2023 was 74,683, slightly higher (+6%) than the previous year but 83% higher than prior to the pandemic in 2019 (40,914).
Figure 4: 바카라 사이트˜Temporary Worker바카라 사이트™ visas granted to main applicants between 2019 and 2023
Source: Entry clearance visa applications and outcomes 바카라 사이트“ Vis_D02
Figure 4 shows that grants of 바카라 사이트˜Seasonal Worker바카라 사이트™ visas decreased by 5% to 32,724 compared with the previous year, while the number of 바카라 사이트˜Youth Mobility Scheme바카라 사이트™ visas issued increased by 35% to 22,750 over the same period, returning to 2019 levels.
Table 2: Top 5 nationalities1 of 바카라 사이트˜Seasonal Worker바카라 사이트™ visas granted to main applicants in 2023
| Nationality | 2022 | 2023 | Change | Percentage change |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kyrgyzstan | 4,335 | 7,958 | +3,623 | +84% |
| Tajikistan | 3,906 | 5,665 | +1,759 | +45% |
| Kazakhstan | 2,673 | 5,014 | +2,341 | +88% |
| Uzbekistan | 4,228 | 4,091 | -137 | -3% |
| Ukraine | 7,332 | 2,535 | -4,797 | -65% |
| Other nationalities | 12,010 | 7,461 | -4,549 | -38% |
| Seasonal Worker | 34,484 | 32,724 | -1,760 | -5% |
Source: Entry clearance visa applications and outcomes 바카라 사이트“ Vis_D02
Notes:
- Top 5 nationalities in the most recent year.
In 2023 the largest number grants of 바카라 사이트˜Seasonal Worker바카라 사이트™ visas were to Central Asian nationalities, while grants to Ukrainian nationals fell 65% - the proportion of grants to Ukrainian nationals decreased to 8%, compared with 21% in the previous year. Further information on Ukraine visa schemes can be found in the 바카라 사이트˜Safe and legal (humanitarian) routes to the UK바카라 사이트™ topic.
2. Work-related extensions
In 2023, grants of an extension in work routes for main applicants increased by 48% to 310,056, primarily driven by extensions in the 바카라 사이트˜Skilled Worker - Health and Care바카라 사이트™ visa route and the 바카라 사이트˜Graduate바카라 사이트™ work route.
490,268 extensions in work routes were granted in 2023, to main applicants and dependants.
Extensions in the 바카라 사이트˜Skilled Worker바카라 사이트™ and 바카라 사이트˜Skilled Worker - Health and Care바카라 사이트™ routes have increased from 193,312 in 2022 to 304,038 in 2023, for main applicants and dependants. Just over half of these extensions were to main applicants which account for 57% (173,499) of total extensions granted.
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: 38% of main applicants who were initially granted a visa in the 바카라 사이트˜Worker바카라 사이트™ category and 68% of 바카라 사이트˜Investor, business development and talent바카라 사이트™ visa main applicants held valid leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain after 5 years. However, 바카라 사이트˜Temporary Workers바카라 사이트™ by the nature of their visa are less likely to stay long term, and only 12% still had valid leave 5 years later.
Analysis linking the current category of leave to the previous category of leave shows that of the 490,000 work extensions granted to main apps and dependants in 2023, 240,000 held a study visa and 203,000 held a work visa before their current work extension.
2.1 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.
A total of 114,409 바카라 사이트˜Graduate바카라 사이트™ route extensions were granted to main applicants in 2023, 57% (+41,430) higher than in 2022 (72,979). It accounted for over a third (37%) of extensions to main applicants into the Work category.
In 2023, Indian nationals represented the largest group of students granted leave to remain on the 바카라 사이트˜Graduate바카라 사이트™ route (50,053), representing 44% of grants of 바카라 사이트˜Graduate바카라 사이트™ route extensions to main applicants, reflecting that they are the nationality granted the most student visas in the last couple of years. Analysis of migrant journey: 2022 report data shows that one-fifth (20%) of students whose leave expired in 2022 switched to the 바카라 사이트˜Graduate바카라 사이트™ route following their studies.
3. Other related data
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.
3.1 Sponsorship licensing for work and study
At the end of 2023, there were around 86,900 organisations and institutions registered as licensed sponsors for work and study.
Home Office management information indicates that there were 13,606 decisions on applications for sponsor licences between October to December 2023, 81% more than in October to December 2022 (7,535). Of these, 10,555 licenses were granted, and 3,051 applications were not granted (including both applications withdrawn and those rejected).
This data also shows that there were 42,890 decisions made in 2023, compared to 26,602 in 2022. Of the 42,890 decisions, 33,231 licences were granted (67% higher than the year before), and 9,659 were not granted (including both applications withdrawn and those rejected).
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. Further information and definitions can be found in the user guide.
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.
Extensions of temporary stay in the UK relate to individuals inside the UK extending or changing the status of their right to stay in the UK. An individual is required to apply for an extension or change in status before their existing permission to enter or stay in the UK expires.
The statistics in this chapter show the number of grants and refusals on applications for extension of temporary stay in the UK. One individual may have made multiple applications for an extension, so may account for multiple decisions. Data in this section includes dependants and takes account of the outcomes of reconsiderations and appeals.
Data on the previous category of leave links current and previous leave types within and across case working systems, with a match rate of 99.7 to 99.9%. Of the successfully matched cases, 8% of previous case types were unknown. Figures and percentages are rounded to reflect this uncertainty.
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
- Migrant journey: 2022 report
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