The OECD released its annual International Migration Outlook on 3 November, dedicating a 40-page chapter to the United Kingdom. The report notes that net migration to the UK reached 770,000 in calendar-year 2024—driven by labour-market demand in health, construction and hospitality—and forecasts a slight fall to 710,000 in 2025 as the new salary-threshold rules for Skilled Worker visas bite.
Despite record inflows, the UK faces acute skill gaps: 78 % of NHS trusts surveyed reported unfilled nursing posts, while the construction sector warns of a 225,000-worker shortfall by 2027. The OECD argues that tightening salary thresholds without boosting domestic training could “exacerbate bottlenecks and inflate project costs,” jeopardising Britain’s net-zero infrastructure timetable.
![OECD International Migration Outlook 2025 highlights UK talent shortages and policy trade-offs]()
On integration, the study praises the UK’s Graduate Route for retaining international students—35 % stay beyond two years—but urges faster processing of settlement applications to reduce uncertainty for employers. It also flags that asylum-case backlogs fell only marginally (-6 %) in 2025 despite extra staffing. The OECD recommends re-prioritising high-risk cases and expanding digital case-management to cut waiting times.
For multinationals, the Outlook provides evidence for strategic workforce planning: sectors exempt from the Immigration Salary List could face steeper recruitment costs, while regional devolved skills initiatives may offer co-funded training to offset reliance on visas. Mobility teams should leverage the data to shape internal forecasts and advocacy positions in upcoming Home Office consultations.
Despite record inflows, the UK faces acute skill gaps: 78 % of NHS trusts surveyed reported unfilled nursing posts, while the construction sector warns of a 225,000-worker shortfall by 2027. The OECD argues that tightening salary thresholds without boosting domestic training could “exacerbate bottlenecks and inflate project costs,” jeopardising Britain’s net-zero infrastructure timetable.
On integration, the study praises the UK’s Graduate Route for retaining international students—35 % stay beyond two years—but urges faster processing of settlement applications to reduce uncertainty for employers. It also flags that asylum-case backlogs fell only marginally (-6 %) in 2025 despite extra staffing. The OECD recommends re-prioritising high-risk cases and expanding digital case-management to cut waiting times.
For multinationals, the Outlook provides evidence for strategic workforce planning: sectors exempt from the Immigration Salary List could face steeper recruitment costs, while regional devolved skills initiatives may offer co-funded training to offset reliance on visas. Mobility teams should leverage the data to shape internal forecasts and advocacy positions in upcoming Home Office consultations.
