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In a sign of a deepening of the japa syndrome and further hit to Nigeria’s health sector, a record 22,278 Health and Care Worker UK visas were issued to Nigerians in the year to June.
This is 264% higher than in the year ending June 2022, as employers scrambled to recruit from overseas amid ongoing labor shortages, according to official figures.
The Home Office data showed how reliant the UK remains on foreign workers 2 1/2 years after the post-Brexit immigration regime came into force.
Skilled Worker’ UK visa grants have increased by 34% (+17,610) in the past year to 69,421. ‘Skilled Worker – Health and Care’ visa grants increased over two and a half times (+157% or +74,096) to 121,290 compared with the previous year as the UK struggled to meet the staffing needs of the National Health Service and care providers.
The latest increase is in part due to the expansion in late 2021 for ‘Care Workers and Home Carers’ and ‘Senior Care Workers’. In the year ending June 2023, ‘Care Workers and Home Carers’ comprised around 50% of visas granted under the ‘Health and Care’ visa category.
Indian (33,669 ) and Nigerian (22,278) nationals accounted for the largest share granted on both these routes.
With employers unable to fill over a million jobs, the government has responded by expanding the shortage occupation list, its visa rule exemption system, to make it easier to bring workers into the country.
Read More about the UK Visa data Here