https://bsky.app/profile/jamesbowes01.bsky.socialhttps://bsky.app/profile/jamesbowes01.bsky.social/post/3mrhizjn4lk2gTop 20 highest sponsored graduate level jobs in Quarter 1 of 2026. Green means would likely qualify for ILR in 5 years, red means likely 10 years. Visas for entry only. Former international students it's mostly similar jobs but fewer senior managers.25 Jul 2026 09:02 +0000at://did:plc:uc7xvb2eiyrsuaefwhgikqtx/app.bsky.feed.post/3mrhizjn4lk2ghttps://bsky.app/profile/jamesbowes01.bsky.social/post/3mrfgxmjzic2sTop 20 occupations for student visa switchers to a work visa in 2025- all occupations.24 Jul 2026 13:20 +0000at://did:plc:uc7xvb2eiyrsuaefwhgikqtx/app.bsky.feed.post/3mrfgxmjzic2shttps://bsky.app/profile/jamesbowes01.bsky.social/post/3mrfgtvbpg22sTop 20 non-graduate jobs (excluding care which has special rules) for switchers from a student visa to a work visa in 2025. Ones in green remain eligible for a work visa from next year.24 Jul 2026 13:18 +0000at://did:plc:uc7xvb2eiyrsuaefwhgikqtx/app.bsky.feed.post/3mrfgtvbpg22shttps://bsky.app/profile/jamesbowes01.bsky.social/post/3mrf4fwpvac2eBased on visa grants in Q1 of 2026, we can expect about 80% of visas for people doing temporary shortage list jobs to go to either Filipinos or EEA nationals. Indians hit hardest by the new changes, but interestingly also Americans hit by sales accounts and business development managers' removal.24 Jul 2026 10:11 +0000at://did:plc:uc7xvb2eiyrsuaefwhgikqtx/app.bsky.feed.post/3mrf4fwpvac2ehttps://bsky.app/profile/jamesbowes01.bsky.social/post/3mrd6rer3lk2lExcluding social care, 4,609* visas were given to people switching from a student visa to a work visa in non-graduate jobs in 2025. However, only 271 would have been eligible under the rules from 2027. *the real number is a little larger but small numbers are removed from the data.23 Jul 2026 15:48 +0000at://did:plc:uc7xvb2eiyrsuaefwhgikqtx/app.bsky.feed.post/3mrd6rer3lk2lhttps://bsky.app/profile/jamesbowes01.bsky.social/post/3mrd5pc7os22f7,077 main applicant visas were granted for skilled worker visas or health and care visas for entry but it would have been 6,431 under the new shortage list rules. So a relatively modest fall. But a fall from 1,153 to 537 amongst non-graduate jobs. The big difference will be grad visa switchers.23 Jul 2026 15:29 +0000at://did:plc:uc7xvb2eiyrsuaefwhgikqtx/app.bsky.feed.post/3mrd5pc7os22fhttps://bsky.app/profile/jamesbowes01.bsky.social/post/3mrd4ugqwvk2fInterestingly 5 of the 28 jobs recommended for inclusion on the Temporary Shortage List from next year aren’t currently eligible for a work visa as they’re not on either shortage list.23 Jul 2026 15:14 +0000at://did:plc:uc7xvb2eiyrsuaefwhgikqtx/app.bsky.feed.post/3mrd4ugqwvk2fhttps://bsky.app/profile/jamesbowes01.bsky.social/post/3mrcu4paff223All occupations only included on the list for 18 months. It's expected that the updated list in July 2028 will include even fewer jobs. In particular, there are concerns over exploitation in the construction sector, but these jobs were kept for now due to the importance of the sector. [contains quote post or other embedded content]23 Jul 2026 12:37 +0000at://did:plc:uc7xvb2eiyrsuaefwhgikqtx/app.bsky.feed.post/3mrcu4paff223https://bsky.app/profile/jamesbowes01.bsky.social/post/3mrcnt2cknk2zhttps://www.gov.uk/government/publications/temporary-shortage-list-stage-2-report Reduced Temporary Shortage List of 28 occupations to replace the current two shortage lists (with a few graduate jobs being cut from the list of eligible occupations plus some common occupations in sales and marketing). Disproportionately hits graduate visa switchers.23 Jul 2026 10:44 +0000at://did:plc:uc7xvb2eiyrsuaefwhgikqtx/app.bsky.feed.post/3mrcnt2cknk2zhttps://bsky.app/profile/jamesbowes01.bsky.social/post/3mr63tev6v22yhttps://migrationobservatory.ox.ac.uk/resources/commentaries/international-students-entering-the-uk-labour-market/ This is an eye opener, how much the number of switchers from a student visa has fallen. Graduate visa switchers are more significant, but we don't yet have good data there.21 Jul 2026 15:12 +0000at://did:plc:uc7xvb2eiyrsuaefwhgikqtx/app.bsky.feed.post/3mr63tev6v22yhttps://bsky.app/profile/jamesbowes01.bsky.social/post/3mr5ipcselk2iEarned Settlement won't 'only' force out people in low paid and/or non-graduate jobs. For the following graduate level jobs over half of visas granted in country in 2025 paid below £50,270 and below either the higher salary threshold or the higher going rate; this would mean having to emigrate.21 Jul 2026 09:29 +0000at://did:plc:uc7xvb2eiyrsuaefwhgikqtx/app.bsky.feed.post/3mr5ipcselk2ihttps://bsky.app/profile/jamesbowes01.bsky.social/post/3mqx32xxaqc2khttps://x.com/CPhilpOfficial/status/2078476956408955219 Never known a more shameless politician than Chris Philp. He’s literally complaining that Labour haven’t deported immigrants that his Conservative government welcomed into the country. You can no longer get a work visa for these jobs if you didn‘t already have one by July 202518 Jul 2026 20:09 +0000at://did:plc:uc7xvb2eiyrsuaefwhgikqtx/app.bsky.feed.post/3mqx32xxaqc2khttps://bsky.app/profile/jamesbowes01.bsky.social/post/3mqwf7qkjj22yIn country work visa grants have grown a lot recently. Often people renewing their visa or switching jobs, but it also includes student/graduate visa switchers. About half are graduate level jobs (many NHS). Grants for jobs ineligible for a new work visa remain high due to revoked sponsor licenses.18 Jul 2026 13:38 +0000at://did:plc:uc7xvb2eiyrsuaefwhgikqtx/app.bsky.feed.post/3mqwf7qkjj22yhttps://bsky.app/profile/jamesbowes01.bsky.social/post/3mqwe24zuac2rThis is telling. Work visa main applicants for entry only (excludes Apr-Sep 24 because of limited data). This would be even worse if student/graduate visa switchers, dependants, refugees and family/private life route included. (Countries assigned to ethnicity most immigrants from there belong to).18 Jul 2026 13:17 +0000at://did:plc:uc7xvb2eiyrsuaefwhgikqtx/app.bsky.feed.post/3mqwe24zuac2rhttps://bsky.app/profile/jamesbowes01.bsky.social/post/3mq7dynm6bs24Work visa applications are actually up in Quarter 2 compared to Quarter 1. Does this mean immigration is increasing again? Not necessarily. Graduate level employment follows seasonal patterns. Financial services recruitment has seasonally increased as normal, but not doctors in training posts.09 Jul 2026 09:45 +0000at://did:plc:uc7xvb2eiyrsuaefwhgikqtx/app.bsky.feed.post/3mq7dynm6bs24https://bsky.app/profile/jamesbowes01.bsky.social/post/3mq4wymap4k26The Temporary Shortage List is under review to decide which jobs should be on it from 2027. But numbers are in free fall already despite these jobs remaining eligible. Dependant ban then tougher English test have hit numbers hard. Some nationalities have given up with high visa rejection rates.(1/2)08 Jul 2026 10:47 +0000at://did:plc:uc7xvb2eiyrsuaefwhgikqtx/app.bsky.feed.post/3mq4wymap4k26https://bsky.app/profile/jamesbowes01.bsky.social/post/3mq2bpalml22cIs it really credible that 3 Nepalese skilled workers are bringing 194 dependants with them? Clearly not. The latest Times article is therefore clearly misrepresenting the facts (and deliberately so). Dependant numbers are falling, albeit slower than anticipated. (1/2) [contains quote post or other embedded content]07 Jul 2026 09:21 +0000at://did:plc:uc7xvb2eiyrsuaefwhgikqtx/app.bsky.feed.post/3mq2bpalml22chttps://bsky.app/profile/jamesbowes01.bsky.social/post/3mpy6tl4xxk2oIf you haven't quite grasped yet just how far immigration has fallen this may help put things into perspective: In the first three months of 2026 there were only 21 visa applications for entry made by Filipino nurses. This is without any visa restrictions making it harder for nurses to come.06 Jul 2026 13:24 +0000at://did:plc:uc7xvb2eiyrsuaefwhgikqtx/app.bsky.feed.post/3mpy6tl4xxk2ohttps://bsky.app/profile/jamesbowes01.bsky.social/post/3mplnaaluik26Small boat crossings for the first half of the year. The second lowest year post pandemic, slightly ahead of 2023. While crossings have increased with the warmer weather it is still the fewest crossings in June since 2021. 41% fall on last year.01 Jul 2026 13:37 +0000at://did:plc:uc7xvb2eiyrsuaefwhgikqtx/app.bsky.feed.post/3mplnaaluik26https://bsky.app/profile/jamesbowes01.bsky.social/post/3mpga6i3cz222This has made a huge difference. Only 163 non-prioritised applicants were awarded a training position in round 1 compared to 2,168 last year. There are two further rounds of recruitment, but the trend is very clear here. [contains quote post or other embedded content]29 Jun 2026 10:00 +0000at://did:plc:uc7xvb2eiyrsuaefwhgikqtx/app.bsky.feed.post/3mpga6i3cz222https://bsky.app/profile/jamesbowes01.bsky.social/post/3mol2y7msg22uThis week saw news articles when Monday saw the highest number of people crossing the Channel in a single day this year (710). What they didn't say so prominently was that there hasn't been a single crossing in the entire rest of June and this year to date is now the lowest post-pandemic.18 Jun 2026 14:46 +0000at://did:plc:uc7xvb2eiyrsuaefwhgikqtx/app.bsky.feed.post/3mol2y7msg22uhttps://bsky.app/profile/jamesbowes01.bsky.social/post/3mnzcpoksac27Before 2021 there was a cap on Tier 2 (General) visas of 20,700 per year. NHS workers and PhD level roles had become exempt; student switchers always had been. In Quarter 1 of 2026, just 4,524 work visas were granted for graduate level jobs (excluding PhD and NHS). So the visa cap wouldn't be hit.11 Jun 2026 13:16 +0000at://did:plc:uc7xvb2eiyrsuaefwhgikqtx/app.bsky.feed.post/3mnzcpoksac27https://bsky.app/profile/jamesbowes01.bsky.social/post/3mnz37mzrks2xThis is interesting. It's clear that Brexit itself did lead to a big fall in EU immigration to the UK after 2020, but the wider trend of decline would have largely happened anyway. In 2026 it's entirely possible that the UK will have higher net migration from the EU than Germany!11 Jun 2026 11:02 +0000at://did:plc:uc7xvb2eiyrsuaefwhgikqtx/app.bsky.feed.post/3mnz37mzrks2xhttps://bsky.app/profile/jamesbowes01.bsky.social/post/3mnpmkyq5xc2tNet migration of EU nationals has fallen since Brexit while non-EU net migration has increased. Many misconceptions have arisen about this and so I will now challenge some of these, like I already have with the myth that net migration will continue to be high. (1/6)07 Jun 2026 16:46 +0000at://did:plc:uc7xvb2eiyrsuaefwhgikqtx/app.bsky.feed.post/3mnpmkyq5xc2thttps://bsky.app/profile/jamesbowes01.bsky.social/post/3mnkubl2zsk25One interesting quirk that has occurred due to the clampdown on immigration is that dependants now significantly outnumber main applicants amongst work visa applicants. This is because workers often move here on their own first and then bring over family later. Dependant numbers will fall further.05 Jun 2026 19:20 +0000at://did:plc:uc7xvb2eiyrsuaefwhgikqtx/app.bsky.feed.post/3mnkubl2zsk25https://bsky.app/profile/jamesbowes01.bsky.social/post/3mnepig4sms2fIf you ever needed proof that AI sycophancy is real, this is possibly the best example I've ever seen.03 Jun 2026 08:39 +0000at://did:plc:uc7xvb2eiyrsuaefwhgikqtx/app.bsky.feed.post/3mnepig4sms2fhttps://bsky.app/profile/jamesbowes01.bsky.social/post/3mna5nqlaw22gUpdated number of people crossing the Channel by small boat until the end of May. Numbers have increased with the warmer weather but the fall is real and not just seasonal. Only a small fall on 2022 and 2024, but worth remembering that these years had a lot of crossings at the end of the year.01 Jun 2026 13:09 +0000at://did:plc:uc7xvb2eiyrsuaefwhgikqtx/app.bsky.feed.post/3mna5nqlaw22ghttps://bsky.app/profile/jamesbowes01.bsky.social/post/3mn5d2ezr2k2xAs of the end of May- now just over half of all work visas sponsored for care workers in 2023 were sponsored by an employer who no longer has an active sponsor license.31 May 2026 10:07 +0000at://did:plc:uc7xvb2eiyrsuaefwhgikqtx/app.bsky.feed.post/3mn5d2ezr2k2xhttps://bsky.app/profile/jamesbowes01.bsky.social/post/3mmvr3ol3k223If net migration becomes negative in 2026 it will be because of a collapse in international student numbers right at the same time that the graduate visas of the largest student cohort expire. [contains quote post or other embedded content]28 May 2026 09:57 +0000at://did:plc:uc7xvb2eiyrsuaefwhgikqtx/app.bsky.feed.post/3mmvr3ol3k223