Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many asylum seekers were employed in roles on the shortage occupation list in 2023.

Asylum seekers who have had their claim outstanding for 12 months or more, through no fault of their own, are eligible to apply for permission to work. Those granted permission are restricted to applying for jobs on the Shortage Occupation List. This is based on expert advice from the independent Migration Advisory Committee.

Should an individual find successful employment, they must provide employment details when available, so that a review of their eligibility for and level of asylum support (if any) can be conducted. Failure to do so will result in any support being discontinued.

The Home Office does not publish data on the number of asylum seekers who have been permitted to work.