Stage 2 consultation opens for the temporary shortage list

The Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) has opened stage 2 of its commission into creation of a temporary shortage list (TSL).
The proposed TSL will grant RQF 3-5 occupations temporary access to the immigration system.
Government sector leads and organisations have been invited to provide evidence on workforce shortages and initiatives to maximise the domestic workforce in a call for evidence running until 2 February 2026.
You can read more about the conclusion of the stage 1 report in our latest news where the MAC identified the eligible occupations because they are potentially crucial to the delivery of the Industrial Strategy or building critical infrastructure.
In stage 2, the MAC is seeking further evidence in a call for evidence (CfE) on the occupations that passed stage 1 to identify which it will recommend adding to the TSL.
Evidence should only provide information on the occupations which passed stage 1. For the health and care sector, this includes:
- SOC 3111 – laboratory technicians
- SOC 3213 – medical and dental technicians.
Evidence provided on occupations which are not in scope of stage 2 will not be considered, including other occupations at RQF1-2 or RQF6+. For a full list of eligible occupation please see Annex A of the stage 1 report.
For occupations to the placed on the TSL, there must be:
- an ambitious workforce strategy (or jobs plan) in place which aims to maximise the use of the UK workforce,
- job plans must include a skills strategy, a plan to work with the Department for Work and Pensions on a domestic labour strategy, and
- steps to manage the risk of exploitation, particularly of migrant workers.
Essential to submissions will be detailed evidence of the nature of shortages and the ongoing work within the relevant sectors to close these shortages.
Detail on stage 2 can be found on GOV.UK.
Next steps
NHS Employers will be submitting a response to the call for evidence as a representative body.
If you would like to get involved, please complete an expression of interest to our International Recruitment Network or email internationalrecruitment@nhsconfed.org.
Responses should be submitted before the closing date of 2 February 2026. The stage 2 final report will be published by July 2026.