The UK government has unveiled a set of new measures aimed at reducing historically high levels of net migration, reinforcing the Home Secretary’s commitment to addressing the root causes of the country’s long-term reliance on international workers.
A key focus of the initiative is on sectors most dependent on overseas labour, encouraging them to invest in domestic skills development. The government has tasked the Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) with monitoring and identifying industries where skills shortages have led to an increase in the recruitment of migrant workers. The MAC will now deliver an annual report to ministers, offering assessments that will guide future policy decisions.
The new measures are designed to ensure that migration is not the default solution for filling skills gaps in the UK labour market. Instead, the government seeks to create a system where employers prioritise investment in local talent through training and workforce planning. The Home Secretary’s approach builds on earlier commitments to link migration policy with wider labour market reforms.
Tighter visa sponsorship rules for migrant workers have also been introduced, giving authorities more power to take action against employers who violate employment laws. This includes restrictions on their ability to hire from abroad if they are found to be flouting regulations. UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) has already ramped up its enforcement efforts, conducting more investigation visits and suspending or revoking sponsor licences where misuse of the immigration system or exploitation of migrant workers is uncovered.
The Home Secretary’s plans are part of a broader framework established in July, which integrates migration policy with labour market strategies. This includes closer collaboration between Skills England, the Industrial Strategy Council, and the Department for Work and Pensions, working in unison with the MAC to ensure migration does not become an alternative to addressing training or skills gaps within the UK workforce.
The expanded role of the MAC will be supported by additional resources and will involve an in-depth examination of why certain industries, such as IT and engineering, are heavily reliant on international recruitment. These sectors have consistently turned to overseas workers to meet demand, and the Home Secretary has already commissioned the MAC to assess these key areas.
By providing an annual assessment, the MAC will help industries respond to skills shortages more swiftly, enabling them to reduce their dependency on migrant labour and invest in the training of local workers. It is hoped that these efforts will lead to the creation of better quality jobs for domestic workers and a more self-reliant UK labour market.
Today’s announcement is part of the government’s wider strategy to reduce migration levels, which will also see the continuation of changes made to the immigration system by the previous administration. The Home Secretary has vowed to tackle the issue head-on, ensuring that UK businesses invest in homegrown talent rather than relying on foreign workers as a default solution.
