The new UK government plans to reduce overseas hiring by tech and engineering companies. Home Secretary Yvette Cooper has asked the Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) to examine how much these sectors depend on skilled worker visas.

In a letter to the MAC Chair on Wednesday, Cooper stated the importance of understanding why some key occupations rely heavily on hiring internationally. She highlighted that information technology and telecommunications professionals, along with engineering professionals, are among the top users of work visas.

Cooper acknowledged the valuable contributions of workers from around the world but emphasized that “the system needs to be managed and controlled.” She stated that the current high levels of international recruitment are unsustainable and indicate ongoing skill shortages in the UK.

UK Government Plans Fairer Immigration System Amid Drop In Visa Applications

Yvette Cooper stated that the government plans to reduce migration by aligning immigration with skills policy, aiming for a fairer and more coherent approach to the labor market.

Cooper added that the current system does not serve the national interest. She emphasized that the government will implement a fair and cohesive approach to the labor market by connecting immigration with skills policy.

However, recent Home Office statistics show a notable decrease in visa applications from students and skilled workers.

Since new restrictions on family dependents were put in place in recent months, applications have decreased significantly. Home Office data indicates that visa applications for main applicants and their dependents in major UK visa categories—Skilled Worker, Health and Care, and Study—dropped by 35 percent, or 187,900, in the first seven months of 2024 compared to the same period last year.

A UK Home Office spokesperson said that immigration brings many benefits to the UK, but it must be managed through a fair system.