UK has closed its doors to people from outside the EU. They cant control EU immigration so they are curtailing immigration from outside the EU. Immigration to the UK is also very expensive. You have to pay NHS surcharge of £200 a year upfront so if you have a 5 year visa, you are paying £1000 upfront in addition to your visa application fees of £1300+. Now if you are single, it's affordable but for a family of 4, it's a large amount to shell out upfront.
The employer has to advertise the role for 28 days and prove that they did not find anyone from the UK and the EU to do the job. You are basically competing with nationals from 28 countries so you need to have some special skill that is not available. They also have to pay a minimum of £30,000 a year.
If an employer wants to sponsor a non-EU national, they have to pay £1000 a year as immigrant surcharge. Employers conveniently pass on those charges to the prospective employee who would have to pay £5000 upfront. Now add up all the costs involved and think if it is worth spending that kind of money to get a visa where you can only work for the employer that sponsored you. The home office is suspending sponsor licenses like crazy. If you lose your job or your employer loses their license, you have 28 days to find a new job with a new sponsor or go packing home and all that money is lost.
