- The UK government announced tighter restrictions on recruitment from overseas for jobs with "critical" skills shortages
- Industries such as finance, IT, and the legal sector are a few that could be impacted by tighter Visa restrictions
- Overseas workers currently contribute £327 billion to the finance sector
The government recently announced changes being made to the UK’s immigration system, prompting concern from some recruiters and business owners who rely heavily on hiring overseas talent.
One key proposal is the removal of the visa route that allowed care workers to enter the UK to fill shortages, and they will only allow a narrow list of critical shortage occupations onto the Temporary Shortage List (which has not yet been announced).
These changes could reduce the number of overseas professionals currently working across various UK sectors. According to data from Remitly, the key industries other than healthcare that rely on the international workforce in the UK are transport, communication, and finance.
Their data found that the finance and insurance sector one of the most significant economic contributions from overseas workers, with the international workforce helping the industry turn over £1.5 trillion a year, and the workforce is made up of 23% international workers.
David Morel, Founder and CEO of Tiger Recruitment, shares his insights on how the latest reform could impact other key sectors in the UK:
“Key sectors like tech, finance, and legal have long benefited from international talent, particularly as AI and digital transformation continue to accelerate. Businesses need access to specialist skills to manage this shift effectively. If access to global talent becomes more limited, employers could face greater hiring challenges, ultimately impacting productivity.
Nearly three in five workers (58%) say their employer has never provided training to improve their digital skills. In an environment where talent is evolving quickly, this makes upskilling and long-term workforce planning more important than ever to encourage growth and maintain the UK’s competitive edge.”
Which Industries Have a High Demand for Overseas Workers?
By reviewing the roles included in the Skilled Worker visa list and looking at the salary threshold needed to hire overseas for each role, Tiger Recruitment was able to find the most in-demand jobs in finance, digital, legal and business support, which regularly hire overseas talent.
Finance
The UK’s financial services industry, particularly in London, has a longstanding reliance on international talent. Key roles include:
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Financial managers and directors: roles such as finance director, investment banker, and treasury manager are in high demand.
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Chartered and certified accountants
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Finance and investment analysts and advisers
Digital and Technology
The UK's digital sector is rapidly growing, with a significant demand for tech professionals. Roles with high overseas recruitment include:
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Programmers and software development professionals
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Design and development engineers: including roles like software engineer and systems developer.
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Cybersecurity specialists
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IT business analysts and systems designers
Legal
The legal industry in the UK also benefits from international expertise, especially in areas requiring specialised knowledge. Key roles include:
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Barristers and judges
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Solicitors and lawyers: including positions like solicitor and managing clerk.
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Paralegals and patent attorneys
Business Support
Beyond finance and tech, the broader business support sector also sees significant overseas recruitment in roles such as:
- Management consultants and business analysts
- Marketing and commercial managers: Including positions like marketing director and commercial manager.
- Human resource managers and directors: HR business partner and HR director.
About Tiger Recruitment
Tiger Recruitment is a global agency headquartered in London and recognised for their unique approach to talent acquisition. The agency is comprised of a number of specialised divisions, each dedicated to serving specific industry sectors. They excel in tailoring their services to perfectly align with the values and requirements of their clients. As a B Corp Certified business, Tiger Recruitment commits to the highest social and environmental standards, embodying their values of excellence, positivity, integrity, dedication, and gravitas in every aspect of its operations.
