A significant shift in the UK labour market is underway, as new research has shed light on the growing number of UK-based jobs taken up by overseas workers, driven by a lack of domestic applicants. Data compiled by a major media source highlights the top professions in Britain where foreign nationals have stepped up, playing a pivotal role in sustaining essential services and plugging skill gaps across sectors.
The figures, drawn from visa allocations between 2021 and 2024, paint a clear picture: roles in care and healthcare, accountancy, and tech are increasingly reliant on migrant labour, with certain nationalities dominating specific job functions.
The care crisis and overseas support
At the top of the list is the care sector — an industry long troubled by recruitment challenges. A total of 111,559 work visas were granted for care work during the three-year period. The majority of these were awarded to applicants from Nigeria and Zimbabwe, each securing over 22,000 placements. Indian workers were also strongly represented, with over 33,000 visas granted for nursing roles, making it one of the most migrant-dependent professions in the country.
This influx of foreign workers reflects both the intense demand for care professionals and the persistent difficulty in attracting British workers to these roles. Despite offering stable employment, the sector continues to suffer from high turnover and low interest domestically — a trend that overseas workers are helping to counterbalance.
Accountants, developers and high-paid specialists
It is not just low-paid or manual jobs drawing international attention. The data also reveals a strong migration pattern for skilled professions. South Africans are the leading nationality relocating to Britain to work as chartered accountants, with 1,449 visas issued.
In the tech sector, Israelis, Hong Kongers, Hungarians, and Croatians dominate the fields of programming and software development — one of the most consistently high-demand areas of the British economy. Israeli nationals, in particular, have found lucrative opportunities, earning an average of £54,669. Meanwhile, those from Japan and St Kitts and Nevis working in sales and business development roles reported even higher average salaries of £55,200.
Lower-paid roles and under-recognised contribution
Not all overseas workers are securing high wages. Afghans, Bangladeshis, and Kenyans are predominantly employed in care-related jobs, typically earning an average of £25,570. These roles, while often underpaid, are vital to the functioning of health and social care services — areas which face persistent staffing shortages.
Indians received the highest number of work visas overall, with 33,046 granted in the 2021–2024 window. They were followed by Nigerians (22,368) and Ukrainians (20,691), underscoring the scale of global interest in UK employment opportunities, even as domestic interest in certain professions wanes.
Voices from the front line
Two powerful personal stories add depth to the data.
Harry Reeves, a 28-year-old paramedic from Australia, now works for a British ambulance trust. He highlights how demand for paramedics in the UK offered a structured career path, noting that the UK’s increasing demand created “better structure and conditions” compared to back home.
He explained:
“When [paramedicine] became a registered profession in Australia in 2018, it led to more graduates than jobs. British ambulance trusts began recruiting directly from Australian universities. I was one of many who answered the call.”
Harry benefited from a recruitment package that included reimbursed flights and free accommodation during his first month.
Pearl Cruz, a 43-year-old nurse from Mumbai, India, arrived in Birmingham in 2023. Previously a chief of quality in her Indian hospital, she now works as a research sister in haematology.
Her journey reflects a broader historical connection between the UK and India in the field of nursing.
“There’s a long history of Indian nurses working overseas,” she said. “The UK’s growing nursing shortage led to stronger collaboration between our countries.”
Pearl’s story is emblematic of a broader trend. In the last decade, the proportion of the NHS workforce born outside the UK has risen from 11% in 2010 to over 18% in 2023, according to NHS figures.
Changing face of the British workforce
These developments mark a defining shift in how the UK meets its labour needs. As interest among British nationals in key professions continues to dwindle — particularly in lower-paid, high-stress sectors like care — the country’s reliance on foreign workers becomes ever more visible.
The Workers Union Says…
“This is not simply an economic issue, but one that touches on social policy, workforce planning, and the perception of various job roles among the domestic population. With increasing numbers of highly-skilled and low-skilled jobs being taken up by overseas workers, the UK must confront a pivotal question: how can it build a sustainable workforce when vital sectors struggle to attract homegrown talent?”
