The UK is actively seeking qualified professionals from around the world and offers numerous job opportunities and visa pathways.
The goal is to attract talent from a variety of sectors, including technology, healthcare and skilled trades.
According to the CARD Scholarship Forum, the UK labour market is experiencing a significant skills shortage, particularly in STEM fields, healthcare and construction.
This demand creates excellent opportunities for international workers, as employers are eager to sponsor foreign talent to fill critical roles.
High demand sectors in the United Kingdom
From September 2024, several sectors in the UK will face urgent skills shortages. These areas include:
- STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics): The UK continues to invest in research and innovation, but lacks qualified professionals in fields such as engineering, data science and computer science. These careers often offer attractive salaries.
- Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning: Demand for AI and data analytics experts has increased as the UK makes progress in this technology. These positions typically offer competitive salaries and significant growth potential.
- Health Care and Medical Professions: An aging population and increasing health care needs have led to a shortage of health care workers, including doctors, nurses, and medical technicians.
- Construction and skilled trades: The UK is facing a shortage of construction workers, electricians and plumbers. The government has created pathways to recruit skilled workers from abroad.
The most in-demand professions in 2025
Below are some of the professions currently in demand in the UK, along with the required qualifications and salary ranges:
Software Engineers
- Salary range: £40,000 to £100,000
- Minimum qualification: Bachelor's degree in Computer Science
- Top employers: Google, Amazon, Microsoft
Data scientists
- Salary range: £45,000 to £85,000
- Minimum qualification: Master's degree in Data Science or Statistics
- Top employers: DeepMind, BBC, Lloyds Banking Group
Nurses
- Salary range: £27,000 to £50,000
- Minimum qualification: Nursing Degree and Registration
- Major employers: NHS, Bupa, Care UK
Civil Engineers
- Salary range: £30,000 to £70,000
- Minimum qualification: Bachelor's degree in Civil Engineering
- Major employers: Balfour Beatty, Atkins, Arup
Electricians
- Salary range: £25,000 to £45,000
- Minimum qualification: Certified apprenticeship
- Major employers: Schneider Electric, SSE, Balfour Beatty
AI Specialists
- Salary range: £50,000 to £90,000
- Minimum qualification: Master's or PhD in Artificial Intelligence
- Top employers: Google DeepMind, Facebook, NVIDIA
Teachers (STEM subjects)
- Salary range: £25,000 to £60,000
- Minimum Qualification: Bachelor's Degree in Education or relevant qualification
- Top Employers: Teach First, Harris Federation, United Learning
Health assistants
- Salary range: £18,000 to £30,000
- Minimum qualification: Relevant health certification
- Major employers: NHS, Bupa, Care UK
Plumbers
- Salary range: £22,000 to £40,000
- Minimum qualification: Certified apprenticeship
- Major employers: British Gas, Pimlico Plumbers, Dyno
Pharmacists
- Salary range: £35,000 to £55,000
- Minimum qualification: Bachelor's degree and membership in Pharmacy
- Major employers: Boots, Lloyds Pharmacy, Superdrug
How to find authorized employers
To work in the UK, it is essential to find employers who are authorised to sponsor work visas. Here is how to check potential employers:
- Visit the UK Government's Register of Approved Sponsors.
- Download or search the list by employer name.
- Verify that the employer sponsorship license is active and valid for your type of work.
Steps to apply for a work visa in the UK
The DAAD Scholarship Forum advises that if you find a job with visa sponsorship, you should follow these steps to apply for a work visa:
1. Find a job: Use job portals such as GOV.UK, LinkedIn and Indeed.co.uk to find positions that offer visa sponsorship.
2. Receive a Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS): Once hired, your employer will provide you with a CoS, a reference number necessary for your visa application.
3. Choose the right visa: Select the appropriate visa type based on your profession. The skilled worker visa is the most common.
4. Submit your application: Submit your application online via the UK Visas and Immigration portal, ensuring you have all the required documents, including your CoS and proof of qualifications.
5. Pay visa fees: Fees range from £610 to £1,400, depending on the type of visa and its duration. In addition, the Immigrant Health Surcharge is typically £624 per year.
6. Submit biometric data: Go to a visa application center to provide fingerprints and photographs.
7. Receive your decision: Application processing time is typically up to eight weeks.
8. Apply for family visas: After obtaining your visa, you can apply for family visas, which will allow your family to join you in the UK.
With these resources and guidelines, skilled professionals can explore exciting career opportunities in the UK and successfully navigate the visa application process.
