A New Era for Graduate Jobs in the UK
Recent changes to UK immigration rules have significantly impacted how employers recruit and how international graduates secure work after university. On 22 July 2025, the UK government raised the Skilled Worker visa salary thresholds, directly affecting the availability of graduate jobs with sponsorship across key sectors such as engineering, science, and hospitality.
At the same time, recent insights from HESA reveal that real graduate earnings are falling, meaning that even when starting salaries increase nominally, the purchasing power of early-career professionals continues to shrink.
If you're an employer hiring graduates or a recent international graduate looking for jobs in the UK, understanding these new requirements is crucial.
What Are the New Skilled Worker Visa Salary Thresholds?
As of July 2025, UK employers hiring international graduates must now meet increased minimum salary requirements to offer sponsorship under the Skilled Worker route:
- Standard Skilled Worker salary threshold: £41,700 (previously £38,700)
- New entrant / graduate salary threshold: £33,400 (previously £30,960)
- Graduate Trainee visa threshold (GBM route): £27,300 (up from £25,410)
- Minimum hourly wage requirement: £17.13/hour (based on a 37.5-hour week)
Only graduate-level roles (RQF Level 6 and above) now qualify for sponsorship. This excludes many entry-level roles in industries like retail, hospitality, and administrative services that were previously eligible under lower RQF levels.
Engineering Graduate Jobs
Engineering has long been a reliable pathway for international graduates, but many engineering graduate schemes in the UK start below the new £33,400 minimum.
This puts civil, mechanical, and electrical engineering jobs—especially in the public or regional sectors—at risk of being excluded from sponsorship eligibility.
However, high-demand industries like aerospace, energy, and software engineering still offer competitive graduate salaries and are more likely to maintain visa sponsorship capabilities.
Science Graduate Roles
Graduates pursuing careers in research, life sciences, and environmental science may struggle to meet the new visa thresholds. Many early-career research assistant or lab technician roles in academia fall below the required salary, even though they qualify in terms of skill level.
With real earnings for professional roles declining, research-based employers will need to reassess how they attract and retain international STEM graduates in a globally competitive market.
Hospitality Management Jobs
International graduates interested in hospitality and tourism now face some of the toughest barriers. Most graduate roles in hospitality management—such as trainee hotel managers or operations assistants—are no longer eligible for sponsorship under the Skilled Worker visa.
Despite the fact that real wages in hospitality increased by around 7% (due to labour shortages), these roles often lack the salary level and skill classification required under the new rules. As a result, graduate jobs in hospitality for international students are becoming increasingly rare.
What This Means for International Graduates in the UK
For international graduates hoping to stay and work in the UK after finishing their studies, the pathway has become significantly narrower. Many graduate-level jobs no longer qualify for Skilled Worker visa sponsorship due to salary thresholds and skill level restrictions.
This means international students must now:
- Focus their job search on graduate schemes in high-paying sectors like tech, engineering, or finance.
- Ensure the employer is a licensed visa sponsor.
- Confirm that the job meets the £33,400 salary threshold and RQF Level 6 classification.
- Consider alternative visa routes, such as the Graduate visa (2 years, no sponsorship required) or Global Talent visa for researchers and academics.
What UK Employers Should Know
If you are an employer hiring international graduates in 2025 and beyond, these changes directly affect your recruitment strategies.
You must:
- Review the salary bands for graduate-level roles.
- Verify whether your job roles meet the Skilled Worker visa requirements.
- Request additional CoS allocations if needed.
- Consider adjusting starting salaries or offering clear salary progression plans to meet visa rules.
- If sponsorship is not viable, you may explore hiring graduates on the Graduate visa, though this is a short-term option.
- Prepare for ongoing immigration reform by strengthening your sponsorship compliance and planning.
Conclusion
The combination of stricter visa salary thresholds and declining real earnings places added pressure on both international graduates and hiring employers. Successful navigation now requires sharp strategy: graduates must focus on high-value, visa-compliant roles, and employers must align compensation and compliance to remain competitive in global talent recruitment.
Need help adapting your hiring strategy or exploring visa pathways? Connect with Migrate UK for tailored advice and strategic hiring solutions.