One year ago today, the government launched the points-based
immigration system and opened the Skilled Worker Visa, marking
the UK’s biggest shift in immigration policy in recent history.
Twelve months on and this has delivered on the public’s
priorities to attract top talent from across the globe, while
encouraging businesses to invest in the British workforce.
The new points-based immigration system means the British
immigration system is now under the control of the UK government.
This has given British firms the freedom to recruit and employ
people based on the skills and talent they offer, rather than
basing employment decisions on the country where someone comes
from.
Home Secretary said:
Our departure from the European Union enabled us to end freedom
of movement and introduce a new points-based immigration system
to control who can come to our country legally.
One year on, our system is making it easier for businesses to
hire the skills and talent they need, while incentivising
investment in our domestic workforce, boosting wages across the
country.
But illegal migration remains a long-standing problem with the
number of small boats crossing the Channel unsafe, unfair and
unacceptable. My New Plan for Immigration will reduce the pull
factors in our asylum system enabling us to have full control of
our immigration system.
The Skilled Worker route, which accounts for 61% of work-related
visas granted, saw the largest increase in visa numbers, up
45,866 or 57% to 126,017 and the Global Talent route increased
from 595 to 2,786 visas issued by the end of September 2021.
In comparison, 110,721 Skilled Worker visas were granted by the
end of September 2019 and 80,151 granted by the end of September
2020 – highlighting the impact of the pandemic on migration,
while the end of free movement a year ago allows the UK to count
all skilled workers coming to the country.
This has meant that over the last year, the UK has welcomed
thousands of workers with the skills the country needs including
IT workers, scientists, plumbers, architects, butchers, doctors,
creative workers and bricklayers.
As well as helping to support public services, boost growth and
drive international competitiveness of the UK’s most innovative
companies, these skilled workers are complementing the UK
workforce – helping to boost wages and opportunities.
The number of visas issued across work and study routes has
recovered to pre-pandemic levels – demonstrating that the UK
continues to attract worldwide talent and skills to support the
post-pandemic economic recovery.
Minister for Safe and Legal Migration said:
As we recover from the pandemic, our points-based immigration
system encourages businesses to focus on their UK workforces,
investing in British people and skills, while boosting growth and
the economy.
At the same time, we recognise there are jobs where we need the
expertise and skills of overseas workers and extraordinarily
talented people who want to make the UK their home. Under our
points-based immigration system, people who want to contribute to
our society will be welcome, based on their skills and talents,
not where their passport is from.
Lynne Watson, Vice President of Human Resources, Thales UK said:
The work we do at Thales, from engineering to manufacturing, is
highly skilled and requires us to draw on talent from across the
globe to deliver cutting edge technology and products for our
customers.
We are very proud of our diverse workforce at Thales and we see
our sponsored route visa workers as a strong asset to that. We
are pleased that the UK continues to be such an appealing place
for so many of our global employees to live and work.
All states have a responsibility to control their borders, which
is why the points-based immigration system supports the
government’s New Plan for Immigration, ensuring the system is
fair to UK workers while allowing employers to recruit those who
have the skills the country needs and to contribute to society.
The points-based immigration system is a simple system, awarding
points for people who have a skilled job and are paid at a rate
that does not drive down wages, as well as having a good standard
of English. Supporting the UK to build back better, the
points-based immigration system is working in tandem with
government initiatives such as the Plan for Jobs and the Lifetime
Skills Guarantee which are designed to help more people secure a
great job while ensuring businesses have access to the workforce
they need now and in the future.
Plan for Jobs has delivered with unemployment falling and the
number of employees on payrolls back above pre-pandemic levels.
Meanwhile the government’s Kickstart Scheme is helping young
people develop skills, confidence and experience to support them
into long-term sustainable employment, with over 100,000 now in
work.
In spring 2022, more visa routes will open, including the
Scale-Up, High Potential Individual and Global Business Mobility
routes. These will provide more opportunities for businesses to
recruit leading people in their fields and encourage brilliant
innovators and entrepreneurs to open enterprises in the UK –
supporting British jobs, contributing to the economy and
improving the UK’s standing on the world stage.
