KPMG, one of the UK's largest graduate employers, has revoked job offers for some foreign graduates following the government's tightening of visa rules for overseas workers.
The firm cited the government's decision to raise the minimum salary required to sponsor a skilled worker visa in the UK as the reason for the move. The changes to eligibility criteria have impacted some of KPMG's graduate programs previously eligible for sponsorship under the skilled worker visa category. This development sheds light on the challenges faced by the professional services industry in the UK amidst stricter regulations on hiring overseas workers.
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's administration has taken a tougher stance on immigration, particularly in the run-up to the general election. The government's decision to increase the salary threshold for skilled workers has directly affected the hiring practices of major firms like KPMG. Consequently, KPMG has ceased hiring overseas graduates requiring skilled worker visas outside of London, except for junior actuaries.
Graduates whose offers were rescinded were informed that they could not defer their places to 2025 and could only transfer to a different graduate program if applications were still open and the role was eligible for sponsorship. KPMG aims to fill the vacant graduate positions with individuals entitled to work in the UK. The firm's decision comes amidst broader efforts to address immigration issues and explore alternative hiring practices, such as hiring former prisoners.
