In 2023, Oxford Economics’ Value of Beauty report found that since Brexit, the personal care sector suffered skills shortages as a result of new visa requirement thresholds and other migration controls.

As a result, since Brexit the Personal Care sector – now worth £28.4bn  – has been left in a quandary when it comes to the recruitment and retention of workers.

In the last week, the UK Government has announced sweeping changes to its immigration policy. These changes will make it harder for workers without graduate-level education to access Skilled Worker VISAs, and will also reduce the number of jobs on the Temporary Shortage List – a list of jobs where exemptions are made to usual VISA requirements.

In addition, the Government will increase English language requirements for VISA holders and their dependents.These challenges pose a significant challenge to the personal care sector. With 59% of full-time and 95% of part-time workers in the sector earning less than the minimum wage to qualify for a Skilled Worker visa, the new rules are likely to exacerbate already existing skills shortages.

The industry is therefore caught in a dilemma. How can growth be maintained and jobs be filled and retained whilst abiding by the new immigration rules?

Oxford Economics’ most recent Value of Beauty report found that not only is the Personal Care sector impacted by skills shortages, but the industry’s exports to non-single market countries have fallen at an annual rate of 4.4% since Brexit. It is therefore essential that the UK Government ensures that its policies are sensitive to the fabric of the UK’s economy.

The British Beauty Council’s view is that jobs in the hair, beauty and personal care industry should be included in the Immigration Salary list – a list of jobs where workers don’t need to earn as much to get a Skilled Worker Visa.

Ensuring enough people to fill employment gaps would reduce the number of people shifting positions, allowing more money to be invested into business growth and supporting and the upskilling existing staff, all identified as key drivers in the Prime Minister’s Plan for Change.

Whilst the industry works to train and retain individuals domestically, overseas workers with high level of skills within specific fields of the hair and beauty industry would help in the Council’s overarching ambition to raise the reputation of the industry.

The British Beauty Council will continue to engage with the Government’s Migration Advisory Committee to make the case for the Personal Care sector and ensure that it can continue to boost growth, drive employment, and promote economic stability across the UK.

To read more about the new regulations, click here.