UK Visa Applications for Health and Social Care Drop Over 80% in July.
Applications for UK visas in the health and social care sector have plummeted by more than 80% compared to last year, indicating a continued decline in net migration to Britain. According to data released by the Home Office, only 2,900 individuals applied for a health and social care visa in July, marking an 82% decrease from July 2023.
Net migration reached a record high of 764,000 in 2022, surpassing the initial estimate of 745,000 by the Office for National Statistics. While inflows remained above historical averages at 685,000 last year, the figures for 2023 have drawn criticism from Conservative Party members and the Reform UK party as the government prepares for the upcoming general election.
The significant drop in visa applications for nursing and caregiving positions suggests that the Labour Party may gain from changing migration patterns and the job market trends that began prior to their victory on July 4.
According to estimates from Oxford University’s Migration Observatory, net migration is projected to decline further over the next five years, potentially reaching around 350,000 by 2030. This decrease is expected to result from more people leaving Britain, a reduction in overseas student arrivals, and fewer vacancies in the private sector.
In December, former Prime Minister Rishi Sunak outlined changes to immigration rules aimed at reducing annual net migration by 300,000. These changes included prohibiting care workers from bringing their partners and children with them on their visas.
In July, the government received 91,300 visa applications from individuals seeking to enter Britain under skilled worker, health and social care, and student routes. This represents a 36% drop compared to July 2023. The number of applications for studying in the UK also fell by 15%, totaling 69,500, raising concerns for the university sector, which has increasingly relied on international students for financial support.
The decline in health and social care visa applications began around November last year, prior to the implementation of Sunak’s reforms. In the first three months of this year, only 9,000 health and care visas were granted, a steep decline from the 36,700 issued during the same period last year. The drop was particularly evident in the demand for care workers, home carers, senior care workers, and nurses.
Brian Bell, chair of the Migration Advisory Committee, suggested that the reduction in health and social care visa issuances could be a “natural correction.” This follows a surge of applicants when the visa route opened in 2022.
A senior care industry representative noted that there may be a sense of “saturation” after a significant influx of care workers in the 18 months following the visa route’s launch in February 2022. International recruits tend to have a lower turnover rate of 15% compared to 30% for the overall workforce.
Despite this, there are still over 130,000 vacancies in the care sector this year as many domestic workers continue to leave their positions. To address this issue, the government is working on a new Fair Pay Agreement for the adult social care sector, which aims to attract more UK staff by enabling workers and unions to negotiate better pay and working conditions.
Additionally, last month, the government launched Skills England to cultivate a domestic talent pool to fill positions that have long faced skill shortages.