Despite the government’s larger attempts to reduce net migration, Home Secretary Yvette Cooper announced that UK construction companies will still be permitted to use foreign workers under the new immigration regulations. An explanation of Temporary Shortage List (TSL)
In order to guarantee that vital businesses are not hampered by recent visa restrictions, Cooper told the Parliament’s Home Affairs Committee on Tuesday that construction will continue to be listed on the new Temporary Shortage List (TSL), a simplified version of the Immigration Salary List. The action is a component of Labour’s plan to lower migration rates while protecting important industries that are essential to economic expansion.
Cooper informed MPs that only positions judged “critical to the industrial strategy” would be eligible for inclusion, and that the construction industry would remain on the Temporary Shortage List. Companies who use the TSL will have to demonstrate their long-term training and hiring strategies for UK workers.
Because the majority of positions would now only be eligible for international recruitment if they require degree-level qualifications, the news provides reassurance to firms who are worried about workforce shortages. The minimum stay for foreign workers seeking settled status has been extended from five to ten years, among other revisions in the government’s immigration white paper.
With more than 1,300 positions currently on the Immigration pay List, firms can sponsor foreign workers at up to 20% less than the average pay criterion. Cooper contended, however, that the system had become unduly liberal and had not succeeded in promoting investment in the domestic labour force. More than 1,000 vocations may still qualify, but the new TSL will drastically limit that number—roughly 180 jobs are anticipated to be eliminated.
Cooper’s comments come in the wake of Labour’s larger attempt to undermine growing support for the anti-immigration Reform UK party, which recently won significant victories in local elections. The new policies seek to achieve a balance between preserving economic resiliency and lowering dependency on migration.
Temporary Shortage List (TSL): What Is It?
The Temporary Shortage List (TSL), a more focused mechanism, will replace the Immigration Salary List (ISL) as part of the broad immigration reforms unveiled in the UK government’s White Paper titled “Restoring Control Over the Immigration System” on May 12, 2025.
The Immigration Salary List (ISL): What Was It?
The Shortage Occupation List (SOL) was replaced by the ISL in April 2024. For positions where there was a labour shortage, it permitted UK firms to sponsor foreign workers, frequently at a wage below the general threshold, but not below £30,960 or the particular occupational rate, whichever was higher.
The ISL was designed to fill skills shortages by allowing for hiring flexibility for certain positions. But because of worries that it did not sufficiently promote investment in the domestic labour, it has turned out to be short-lived.
Why Use the TSL in Its Place?
An approach to labour planning and migration management that is more responsive and restrictive is reflected in the new Temporary Shortage List (TSL). Its primary goals are to:
Cut down on net migration overall
Encourage the development of domestic skills
Make sure that immigration is utilised as a short-term solution to severe workforce shortages.
Important TSL Features
Focused Professions:
Emphasises positions at RQF Levels 3–5, which are usually skilled trades and technician-level positions, as opposed to those that call for a degree (RQF Level 6+).
Time-Restricted Participation:
Depending on current labour market conditions, roles posted on the TSL will only be available for a set amount of time.
Data-driven and dynamic:
Which vocations are eligible for inclusion, how long they should stay, and whether any restrictions or limitations should be in place are all decisions that will be made by the Migration Advisory Committee (MAC).
Stricter Requirements:
The TSL will have more stringent inclusion rules than the ISL, making sure that sectors only use immigration when it is absolutely necessary.
Implementation Schedule
It is anticipated that the MAC will provide its preliminary suggestions for the TSL and revised salary thresholds in the autumn of 2025.
Late in 2025:
Legislative amendments will be made to the Immigration Rules to reflect the recommendations of the MAC.
By January 2026:
It is expected that the first phase of the new TSL system will be implemented.
The TSL essentially represents a major change in policy, moving away from the ISL’s longer-term, more comprehensive immigration assistance and towards more concentrated, short-term, closely regulated options that address urgent labour shortages while emphasising the growth of the indigenous workforce.