Manufacturing NI is encouraging members to respond to the UK Government’s current consultation on the Shortage Occupation List (SOL), alongside the Temporary Shortage List (TSL) Review – Stage 2, both of which have important implications for skills access and workforce planning.
The SOL identifies roles where there are recognised skills shortages and provides flexibilities within the immigration system to help employers recruit internationally where domestic supply cannot meet demand. The Temporary Shortage List complements this by providing time-limited immigration flexibility for roles experiencing acute shortages.
For manufacturing, engineering and advanced production businesses in Northern Ireland, these mechanisms can play a critical role in sustaining operations, supporting growth and maintaining competitiveness.
Manufacturers continue to report persistent and acute skills gaps, particularly in technical, engineering, digital and specialist production roles. The Stage 2 review of the Temporary Shortage List provides an important opportunity to ensure that the specific needs of Northern Ireland manufacturing are fully understood and reflected in future policy decisions.
Manufacturing NI is keen to gather member insight on:
- Roles that are difficult to recruit for locally
- The duration and severity of skills shortages
- The impact on productivity, investment, innovation and delivery
- Whether the SOL and TSL, as currently designed, adequately support manufacturing needs
Please respond by answering each of the questions below and email to mary@manufacturingni.org by 12 noon on Wednesday 28th January 2026
- What is the relevant job title(s) and SOC code for the occupation in shortage? Please use the Cascot SOC 2020 identifier and enter the name of the job you want to find an occupation code for in the text box at the top of the page.
- Please provide an overview of the occupation, current and recent shortage, and the drivers of any shortage. This could include what role this occupation plays within the sector, the barriers to training, recruitment and retention.
- Please provide an overview of recent employment trends and what future employment might look like for this occupation over the next 5-10 years. Your response could include demand, supply and shortage estimates, the drivers of these changes, regional or Devolved Nation impacts, and any additional data considerations.
Your feedback will help shape Manufacturing NI’s response and strengthen the evidence presented to government. We strongly encourage all members to share their experience.
Further details on the consultation is outlined below.
Q&A
What is the Shortage Occupation List (SOL)?
The Shortage Occupation List forms part of the UK immigration system and identifies occupations where there are insufficient suitably skilled workers within the UK. Roles on the list may benefit from more flexible visa requirements, helping employers recruit internationally where necessary.
What is the Temporary Shortage List (TSL)?
The Temporary Shortage List is designed to address short-term or emerging skills shortages by allowing limited, time-bound access to overseas labour. It is intended to complement domestic skills development while providing immediate relief to sectors under pressure.
What is this consultation about?
The UK Government is reviewing both:
- How shortage occupations are identified and assessed, and
- Which roles should be included on the Temporary Shortage List as part of Stage 2 of the TSL review.
The consultation is seeking evidence from employers and sectors on where genuine shortages exist, how long they are likely to persist, and whether current immigration tools are effective.
Why does this matter to manufacturing in Northern Ireland?
Manufacturing NI members consistently highlight long-standing shortages in areas such as:
- Engineering and maintenance
- Fabrication and welding
- Automation and digital manufacturing
- Specialist technical and production roles
Northern Ireland’s smaller labour market and competition for skilled workers mean these shortages can be particularly challenging. If manufacturing roles are not accurately reflected in the SOL or TSL, businesses may face constraints on growth, productivity and investment.
What kind of feedback is most useful?
Employers are encouraged to provide clear, practical evidence, including:
- Specific hard-to-fill roles
- Typical vacancy durations
- Business impacts of unfilled posts (e.g. lost contracts, reduced output, delayed investment)
- Whether shortages are temporary or structural
What will Manufacturing NI do with member input
Manufacturing NI will use member feedback to inform its formal submission to the consultation and ongoing engagement with policymakers, ensuring the manufacturing voice in Northern Ireland is clearly and robustly represented.