MAC Report Shows Which Skilled Workers Are Most Likely to Settle in the UK
17 May 2026
If you are on a Skilled Worker or Health and Care Worker visa and planning to stay in the UK long-term, a new government evidence report gives the clearest picture yet of how many people in your position reach settlement.
The Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) published the report on 12 May 2026, using Home Office administrative data on 916,000 unique visa journeys from 2014 to 2024. It covers Tier 2 General, Skilled Worker, and Health and Care Worker main applicants. The MAC linked 97% of migrant records to a Certificate of Sponsorship, giving a highly complete dataset.
The figures are most striking for health workers. The report states that "94% of nurses still have valid immigration status five years after arrival." Across the wider human health and social work sector, the five-year valid-status rate is 88.2%. If you are a nurse or health care worker on a sponsored visa, the data shows the large majority of your peers reach the point where they can apply for ILR.
For the broader Skilled Worker population, the picture is more varied. Looking at those who started their UK journey in 2019, the report finds that by the end of 2024, "29% held limited leave to remain, 14% had obtained ILR and 57% had expired leave." The MAC also finds that migrants earning under £40,000 have higher stay rates than higher earners, and that female migrants are significantly more likely to remain than males. This is a research report, not a policy change. There is nothing you need to do as a result. But if you are planning your path to ILR, the data offers useful context on how workers in your sector fare over time.
Sources: