The UK government will limit work visas for skilled migrants in jobs below graduate level. Home Secretary Yvette Cooper announced the measure as part of efforts to reduce net migration.
The changes mean only graduate-level jobs will qualify under the standard skilled visa system. The required threshold will now match RQF level six, equivalent to a UK degree. Previously, level three jobs such as A-level standard roles were also eligible.
For roles below that threshold, workers can only come on a time-limited basis. Employers must also show strong evidence of skills shortages and have clear plans to train UK staff.
Yvette Cooper described the decision as bold action to restore immigration control and raise domestic skills training. She said the policy would cut net migration and support long-term economic growth.
The new rules will be outlined in a white paper on Monday. Ministers aim to calm political pressure after Reform UK gained momentum in local elections.
Cooper said earlier governments failed to manage immigration properly. She blamed the previous administration for treating free movement as a market experiment without safeguards.
The government will also launch a Labour Market Evidence Group to review sector reliance on overseas workers. This new team will include representatives from industry, education, and the Migration Advisory Council.
Their job is to track which industries depend too heavily on foreign labour. They will also guide how to reverse years of underinvestment in UK workforce development.
Sectors such as social care and hospitality have raised concerns about stricter immigration rules. Some industry leaders warn the new policy could worsen staff shortages if local recruitment does not improve.
Nadra Ahmed from the National Care Association said her group needs time to study the details. However, she fears the new policy could damage the fragile care sector.
Currently, the UK care sector employs 70,000 foreign workers and still has 120,000 job vacancies. Ahmed warned that without better pay and domestic recruitment, many care providers may shut down.
She said reducing access to overseas staff without extra funding would only widen the gap in care services. That could harm thousands who rely on social care every day.
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