What does the Skilled Workers overhaul mean for the construction industry?

If you work in the construction industry, you’ll probably be aware that Skilled Worker overhaul.

180 roles are being made ineligible for the Skilled Workers visa, (which allows eligible foreign applicants to come to the UK to work for an approved sponsor) meaning big changes are on the cards for the businesses who employ them.

The construction industry (along with hospitality) is set to take the biggest hit from the shift in rules, with the roles below amongst those to be removed from the visa:

• roofers, roof tilers and slaters 
• carpenters
• bricklayers
• sheet metal workers
• electricians 

If you employ anyone under the visa’s criteria, there’s a chance you’ll also need to make some changes to your payroll. To keep their legal working status, employees who have come to the UK will need a salary of at least £31,300, so some pay rises might be on the cards to keep your team on board.