The British government has released a list of 82 mid-skilled occupations eligible for temporary work visas under its new Temporary Shortage List (TSL) scheme.
The development, published in the Temporary Shortage List: Stage 1 Report (October 2025), follows recommendations by the Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) as part of efforts to address critical labour shortages across the UK.
In May 2025, the government published an Immigration White Paper (IWP) titled “Restoring Control over the Immigration System”, outlining a strategy to reduce net migration while fostering economic growth.
The document revealed that net migration had reached a record high of 906,000 in the year ending June 2023 a fourfold increase in less than four years.
To address this, the government raised the Skilled Worker visa threshold from RQF Level 3 (A-level equivalent) to RQF Level 6 (degree level), thereby excluding mid-skilled roles from eligibility.
To fill these gaps, the government replaced the Immigration Salary List (ISL) with the Temporary Shortage List (TSL) a new route providing time-limited access to foreign workers in sub-degree roles.
According to the report, the 82 jobs recommended form part of Britain’s Temporary Shortage List, offering time-limited access to foreign workers in roles that require qualifications below degree level.
Some of the occupations listed include:
The MAC’s next report on salary thresholds and visa caps for mid-skill roles is expected in December 2025, while the final TSL recommendations will be submitted by July 2026.