Background
In July 2025 the Government increased the skill requirement for work visas from RQF Level 3 (A Level equivalent) to RQF Level 6 (degree level). This immediately excluded a wide range of roles common in manufacturing such as certain engineering technicians, machine operators and assembly staff. To address skill shortages in these areas, a Temporary Shortage List (TSL) was introduced. This allows for certain lower-skilled roles to be sponsored until the end of 2026 and includes positions relevant to manufacturing as well as other industries.
The TSL sits alongside the Immigration Salary List permitting sponsorship for certain roles below RQF Level 6. As the name suggests, the TSL is temporary. Occupations codes can be added and removed as required to fill skill gaps. The list was compiled quickly as an interim measure, pending a more thorough review. Consequently, the Government has commissioned the Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) to review the TSL and assess which occupations could be potentially eligible for inclusion going forward because they are crucial to the delivery of the Industrial Strategy or critical infrastructure.
MAC Call for evidence
In October 2025, the MAC published its stage 1 review, identifying the occupations potentially eligible for continued inclusion. Stage 2 is now open, and the MAC has issued a call for evidence which closes on 2 February 2026. As part of this, the MAC is seeking further evidence on those codes which passed stage 1. Evidence on other codes will not be considered. The call for evidence is split across two questionnaires. One is for government organisations submitting job plans and the other is for representative bodies.
Relevance for Manufacturing Sector
Several codes relevant to the manufacturing sector are under review including (among others):
- 3111 – Engineering Technicians.
- 3116 – Planning, Process and Production Technicians.
- 5213 – Welding Trades.
- 5231 Vehicle Technicians, Mechanics and Electricians.
This reflects the fact that Advanced Manufacturing is one of the eight “growth-driving” sectors noted in the Industrial Strategy. It also highlights the manufacturing sector’s heavy reliance (both in Northern Ireland and throughout the UK) on these mid-level technical roles, which are difficult to fill from the resident labour market in sufficient numbers.
Allowing access to sponsorship of overseas workers (even temporarily) could helper employers to plug gaps that are holding back production and contract delivery. At the same time, the TSL’s emphasis on time-limited solutions and domestic workforce development fits the long-term policy aim of reducing reliance on migrant labour.
How NI manufacturers should respond
It is essential that the collective voice of the manufacturing industry is heard. Companies should act through relevant representative bodies to ensure that evidence from the ground reaches the MAC. Persuasive evidence should include:
- Difficulties in recruiting for these roles.
- Constraints in local training pipeline.
- The limited effectiveness of jobs plans in the short term.
- Case studies and concrete examples of production delays or contract loss linked directly to recruitment shortfalls
It would also be useful to highlight if there are any region-specific issues that affect Northern Ireland in particular. Finally, manufacturers should outline plans on how the industry will upskill local workers through the likes of apprenticeships so that in the future they will be less dependent on migrant labour.
The MAC’s call for evidence constitutes a narrow window for the manufacturing industry to influence the future of the TSL. The industries that present the most compelling cases to the MAC will likely be those that succeed in securing access to sponsorship in these roles. Therefore, the sector should act on this now to avoid disappointment.
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