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UK Recruitment Glossary

SOL (Shortage Occupation List)

Alex By Alex · 12-year UK recruiter · Updated April 2026

In recruiter context

Skilled Worker visa requirements are relaxed for SOL roles: lower salary threshold (£30,960 vs £38,700 for non-shortage), simplified Resident Labour Market Test, sometimes faster processing. Roles on the 2024-2025 list include: cyber security specialists, civil engineers, graphic designers, social workers, biological scientists, nurses (most specialties), some teacher specialties, vet professionals. The list is reviewed periodically by the Migration Advisory Committee. Worth checking gov.uk/government/publications/skilled-worker-visa-shortage-occupations for current list. For UK employers: SOL roles have additional sponsorship benefits and may be easier to fill internationally.

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