The Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) has recommended that 28 occupations supporting clean energy, environmental resilience and critical infrastructure should be included on the Temporary Shortage List, recognising current workforce shortages across key sectors of the UK economy.
MAC is an independent body that advises the UK Government on migration and labour market issues. Its recommendations follow a review of workforce shortages across the UK economy. The MAC reports its findings directly to Government to help inform decisions on immigration policy and workforce needs.
The Temporary Shortage List identifies occupations experiencing significant recruitment difficulties. Inclusion on the list is intended to help employers address immediate workforce pressures while longer-term workforce solutions are developed through skills, training and workforce planning initiatives.
The recommendations include several occupations that support the delivery of clean energy projects, environmental resilience and critical infrastructure. One example is the occupation group of electrical and electronic technicians, which includes the Overhead Linesperson role. Roles within this occupation group play a vital role in constructing, maintaining and reinforcing the UK’s electricity networks.
Working with National Grid, SSE and ScottishPower, Energy & Utility Skills Group has already developed the Overhead Linesperson apprenticeship end point assessment. Additionally, new qualifications for overhead lines roles have recently been launched. Energy & Utility Skills Group is also working directly with the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, and Skills England to develop a specialist apprenticeship unit for this critical occupation. Together, this apprenticeship, qualification and specialist unit demonstrate how Energy & Utility Skills Group convenes employers and governments to create agile, complementary routes to workforce competence.
The MAC’s recommendations also include three occupation categories that Energy & Utility Skills Group highlighted through its workforce research and evidence submitted to the review:
- Engineering technicians, including commissioning engineers and horizontal directional drilling (HDD) specialists.
- Data analysts.
- Construction and building trades supervisors, including site managers.
The recommendations recognise immediate workforce pressures. Energy & Utility Skills Group will continue working with governments, employers and training providers to strengthen workforce planning, develop skills pathways and attract the talent needed to deliver the UK’s clean energy and critical infrastructure ambitions.
Stephen Barrett, Director of Membership & Strategic Engagement, welcomed the findings and said:
“The occupations recommended by the Migration Advisory Committee reflect the current workforce challenges faced by our sectors. While temporary migration can help meet immediate needs, the long-term objective must be growing UK capability. Through qualifications, apprenticeships and employer-led skills initiatives, Energy & Utility Skills Group and its partners are already helping to build the workforce needed to deliver the UK’s energy and infrastructure ambitions.”
A small number of occupations highlighted by Energy & Utility Skills Group were not included in the MAC’s recommendations. These include estimators, valuers and assessors, project support officers, and electrical service and maintenance mechanics. EUSG will continue to develop routes to competence and attract more people into the sector, while also working with members and industry to strengthen the evidence base and support future engagement with the MAC on these roles.
Energy & Utility Skills Group will continue working with employers and partners to provide workforce intelligence, support skills development and help build the long-term workforce capacity needed across energy and critical infrastructure. In the autumn, Energy & Utility Skills Group will publish updated workforce demand estimates for the period 2026–32, providing the evidence base for the sector’s workforce planning.
To discuss workforce planning, labour market intelligence or skills development support, contact the Energy & Utility Skills Group team at [email protected].
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