Big changes have landed for anyone hiring or applying under the Skilled Worker visa route. As of June 2025, the UK government rolled out a major reform package to tighten the system and bring net migration down. One of the biggest updates? The minimum skill level has now jumped from RQF Level 3 to RQF Level 6. In plain terms, that means only graduate-level jobs now qualify. As a result, over 100 lower-skilled roles have been removed from the eligibility list.

Salary thresholds have also gone up, in line with current UK pay data. So even if a role qualifies on the skill level, it still needs to meet the new higher salary floor. That’s a big shift, especially for employers in sectors like hospitality, retail, or care who’ve relied on overseas recruitment to plug gaps.

The government has made it clear they want to see more investment in UK talent and training, not short-term fixes from abroad. There are some transitional arrangements in place for current visa holders, but these will be phased out.

In short, the Skilled Worker route is now narrower, more selective, and aimed squarely at high-skill, high-pay roles. Employers will need to plan ahead and adapt their hiring strategies fast.