Skilled Worker Visa Analysis Highlights Strong Long-Term Retention in Health and Care Sector
A newly published report from the Migration Advisory Committee has revealed that overseas workers employed in health and social care are among the most likely to remain in the UK over the long term.
The detailed analysis examines patterns of retention among migrants who entered the UK through the Skilled Worker visa route and its predecessor schemes between 2014 and 2024. Using linked Home Office administrative data, the report explores how long migrants continue to hold valid immigration status after arriving in the country.
According to the committee, the research is intended to improve understanding of how migrant workers settle in the UK and how different groups contribute to long-term workforce participation and integration.
The report notes that overall five-year retention rates have increased steadily during the past decade. Among migrants who arrived in 2014, around 74% still held valid immigration status after five years, rising to approximately 85% for those arriving in 2019.
However, the committee stressed that the figures relate only to immigration status records and do not necessarily confirm whether individuals are physically residing in the UK.
The analysis identified significant differences in retention across sectors, nationalities, salary levels and age groups. Migrants employed in human health and social work recorded notably stronger long-term stay rates than workers in most other industries.
The report found that 88.2% of workers in health and social care still held valid immigration status five years after arrival, compared with 76.4% across other sectors. Nurses showed particularly strong retention, with around 94% continuing to hold valid status after five years.
In contrast, the education sector recorded lower retention levels, particularly among higher education professionals. The report suggests that shorter-term contracts and internationally mobile career structures may contribute to earlier departures from the UK.
The committee also found that migrants earning below £40,000 annually were more likely to remain long term than higher earners. Those with salaries exceeding £125,000 recorded the lowest retention rates, although the report cautioned that longer visa periods for higher-paid workers may make departures harder to identify in the data.
Retention trends also varied by demographic group. Female migrants were more likely to remain in the UK than men, while workers under the age of 45 demonstrated higher long-term stay rates than older migrants. Workers arriving from Africa, Southern Asia and non-EU European countries were among the groups most likely to continue holding UK immigration status over time.
The MAC said the findings may have implications for the Government’s proposed “earned settlement” approach to immigration policy. The report suggests that groups already showing lower long-term retention could be more sensitive to changes in settlement rules, while health and care workers appear to demonstrate a strong existing commitment to remaining in the UK.
Despite variations between sectors and income levels, the committee concluded that the Skilled Worker route continues to deliver a broadly positive fiscal contribution overall, particularly for migrants entering roles that meet current salary thresholds under UK immigration rules.
