THE British Government has announced a major overhaul of its immigration policy, barring foreign workers from filling more than 100 job categories in an effort to reduce net migration and prioritise employment opportunities for UK citizens.
The announcement was made by the Home Office in a statement posted on X (formerly Twitter) early Saturday morning, stressing that the move is central to Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer’s pledge to restore balance to the UK’s immigration system.
“Cutting net migration means getting the fundamentals right. More than 100 occupations are no longer eligible for overseas recruitment, opening up more jobs for British workers. A fairer, skills-focused system is now taking shape,” the Home Office declared.
This marks the most significant immigration clampdown since Starmer’s Labour government assumed office on July 5, 2024, following a decisive general election victory.
Immigration has been one of the most contentious political issues in Britain in recent years, with both rising net migration figures and pressure on public services fuelling demands for stricter controls.
Starmer, who had campaigned on a promise of “controlled, fair and skills-based migration,” has now moved to enforce policies that tighten the flow of overseas labour into the UK market.
The specific job categories affected by the ban have yet to be published, but experts anticipate that the restrictions will touch on both low-skilled and mid-level roles, particularly in industries traditionally reliant on foreign labour, such as hospitality, retail, logistics, and parts of healthcare.
Business groups are expected to respond in the coming days, with some already voicing concerns that the restrictions could drive up costs and place additional strain on companies.
The Home Office said the move is part of a transition to a skills-first immigration system, which will still allow recruitment of high-skilled workers in critical fields such as technology, advanced engineering, and medicine.
“Britain must strike a balance between attracting global talent where needed and ensuring its citizens are not sidelined in their own job market,” one senior government source noted.
The full list of the more than 100 restricted occupations has not yet been released, but the Home Office confirmed it will publish detailed guidelines soon.
Until then, both employers and potential foreign workers remain in uncertainty, with immigration lawyers predicting a rush of visa-related queries in the coming weeks.
