Healthcare is another important sector for immigrants. As of September 2021, more than 32,000 Indians were the largest foreign group working in the  National Health Services (NHS), second only to Brits themselves. Right now the NHS, once again suffering staff shortages as omicron wreaks havoc, would no doubt welcome more helping hands.

The UK needs workers across a slew of professions—scientists, vets, care workers, architects, artists, dancers, graphic designers, and more—and will even allow employers to pay 20% below the threshold for visa eligibility for these roles.

The UK is already making more room for Indian talent. A migration and mobility partnership introduced last May allows up to 3,000 Indians between the ages of 18 and 30 to live and work in the UK for two years annually. The two governments can choose to raise or lower this limit.

…and study

Indian students have also come to the UK in droves.

Between 2019 and 2020, 48% more Indians received Tier 4 student visas to the UK, while those granted to Chinese nationals—the largest international student population in the UK—fell by 56%. Even the pandemic couldn’t completely dampen Indians’ enthusiasm for British campuses. In 2021, 9,930 Indians applied to UK universities—up 30% from 7,640 the previous year.

As the road to immigration after graduation becomes clearer, Indian students could also supply a ready-made workforce for the UK after they receive their degrees.

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