UK announces £3 billion investment in skills training to cut reliance on foreign workers 

This comes amid growing political pressure to curb immigration and revamp the labour market.

The new initiative, unveiled on Tuesday, is expected to create 120,000 training opportunities across high-demand sectors including construction, engineering, health and social care, and digital.

According to the Department for Education, the strategy is designed to “refocus the skills landscape towards young, domestic talent.” 

Among the reforms is a proposed 32% hike in the immigration skills charge—a levy paid by employers hiring foreign workers.

The government expects this move alone could fund up to 45,000 additional training places in priority sectors.

Officials argue that these reforms will help “upskill the domestic workforce and reduce reliance on migration.”  

However, businesses have raised concerns, warning that restrictions on foreign hiring, if not matched with meaningful skills development, could worsen existing labour shortages and drag on economic growth.

Naijaonpoint earlier reported that the UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer unveiled a major immigration White Paper on May 12, 2025, outlining a comprehensive overhaul of the country’s migration system.

The proposal introduces tougher rules across work, family, and student visa categories, with a central emphasis on encouraging long-term integration and reducing dependence on foreign labour.