UK grants 20,000 work visas to Zimbabwean health and care workers
The United Kingdom has revealed that it granted 20,000 work visas to Zimbabwean emigrants in the health and care sector as of June this year. This staggering figure represents a 372% increase from 2022 and reflects the ongoing trend of locals leaving Zimbabwe in search of better opportunities abroad.
According to the UK government’s national statistics report titled “Why do people come to the UK? To work,” a total of 20,152 health and care worker visas were issued to Zimbabweans in the year ending June 2023. This number marks a substantial rise from the 4,270 visas granted in June 2020.
Among the countries granted health and care worker visas, Zimbabwe ranked third, with India leading the list at 33,669 visas and Nigeria in second place with 22,278 visas.
The report highlights that long-term immigration through work-related visas accounted for 33% of non-EU long-term immigration in the year ending June 2023, totalling an estimated 322,000 arrivals. This represents a significant increase from the 198,000 arrivals recorded in the previous year. The majority of these arrivals were split between main applicants (169,000) and dependants (154,000).
The UK government attributed the growth in long-term sponsored work visas to the introduction of the “Skilled Worker” and “Skilled Worker — Health and Care” visas in 2020. It noted that health and care work visas were the most sought-after among the various work visas available.
The report also revealed that a significant portion of the worker visas issued to immigrants from Zimbabwe went to individuals bringing in family members. Indian nationals accounted for 38% of all dependants issued a work visa alongside main applicants, followed by Nigerian and Zimbabwean nationals at 17% and 9%, respectively.
The UK Office of National Statistics further reported a 99% increase in the number of grants issued to dependants of work visa recipients in the year ending June 2023 compared to the previous year.
The data showed that people initially arriving long-term on work-related visas made up 22% of non-EU long-term emigration as of June 2023, with an estimated 45,000 individuals leaving the UK.
These statistics indicate a significant rise in net migration for work reasons, with the number increasing from 168,000 in the year ending June 2022 to 278,000 in the year ending June 2023. This represents a larger proportion of net migration attributed to work in the latter period, accounting for 36% compared to 23% in the previous year.
The granting of these work visas to Zimbabwean health and care workers underscores the ongoing global demand for skilled professionals in the sector, while also reflecting the aspirations of Zimbabweans seeking opportunities and a better quality of life abroad.
