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UK govt. considers curbing overseas hiring in Tech and Engineering sectors
The government aims to reduce migration by aligning immigration with skills policy, seeking a fairer and more coherent approach to the labor market.
Yvette Cooper is Labour MP for Pontefract, Castleford & Knottingley and Home Secretary. / Facebook/Yvette Cooper
In a move that could signal challenges for aspiring Indian tech professionals, the UK government under Prime Minister Keir Starmer is considering curbing overseas hiring by technology and engineering companies. Home Secretary Yvette Cooper has requested the Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) to review these sectors' reliance on skilled worker visas.
Cooper emphasized the need to understand why key occupations, particularly in information technology, telecommunications, and engineering, depend heavily on international recruitment. "While the government was very grateful for the contribution that people from all over the world make to our economy... the system needs to be managed and controlled," Cooper stated in a letter to the MAC.
The government aims to reduce migration by aligning immigration with skills policy, seeking a fairer and more coherent approach to the labor market. Cooper has asked the MAC to provide a report within nine months on how the immigration system "could be used more effectively" to encourage employers to recruit from the domestic workforce.
Drop in UK visa applications
Recent data indicates a significant decline in the number of overseas workers and students applying to come to the UK. According to The Guardian, applications for skilled worker, health and care, and study visas dropped by more than a third in July 2024, totaling 91,300, compared to the previous year.
The University of Oxford's Migration Observatory has projected that net migration will continue to decline over the next five years, potentially reaching about 350,000 by 2030. This trend is expected to be driven by factors such as an increase in people leaving Britain, fewer overseas students arriving, and a decrease in private sector vacancies.
Overall, the number of people applying for skilled worker, healthcare worker, or student visas has decreased from 143,000 in July 2023 to 91,300 in July 2024—a 36 percent drop.
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