immigration | 18 June 2025
The One Take: What Proposed Changes to U.K. Immigration Mean for Talent Mobility
By Michael T. Jackson, Marcia Longdon, Jurga McCluskey
In this episode of The One Take, Michael T. Jackson, WERC vice president of public policy and research, sits down with two volunteer members of WERC’s Immigration Policy Forum, Marcia Longdon and Jurga McCluskey. They discuss the U.K. Labour Government’s recent immigration white paper and the proposals that could significantly reshape the landscape for skilled migration and global talent strategy, including:
- Raising the Bar for Skilled Workers: The minimum skill level for visa eligibility is set to return to degree-level roles, reversing post-Brexit flexibility and potentially disqualifying many current job categories.
- Cost Pressures on Employers: Proposed increases to salary thresholds and visa-related fees—including a 32% increase in the Immigration Skills Charge—could significantly raise the cost of sponsoring foreign talent.
- Impact on Families and Talent Strategy: New English language requirements for dependents and the removal of care workers from sponsorship eligibility raise concerns about family mobility and workforce planning.
Michael T. Jackson
Michael T. Jackson is the vice president of public policy and research for WERC.
Marcia Longdon
Marcia Longdon is a partner at Kingsley Napley LLP.
Jurga McCluskey
Jurga McCluskey is a Partner at Deloitte LLP.