An article produced by Times Higher Education highlights that in the MAC's recent report on the Graduate Visa, the conclusion was that it did not meet the UK Government's stated aim, namely to attract the brightest and the best to stay in the UK. This is because more students on this visa are ending up in lower-paid jobs, as opposed to talented students working in high-skilled graduate jobs.
The MAC report included their previous recommendations against the introduction of a separate graduate visa, because of concerns that it would lead to an increase in low-wage migration and universities marketing themselves on post-study employment potential rather than educational quality.
With this mindset already in place, it would not surprise me if the MAC recommends, at the conclusion of their review, that the UK Government scrap the Graduate Visa in favour of employers recruiting graduates under the Skilled Worker Visa. This recommendation will align with the UK Government's current thought process, which is that only the most highly skilled jobs be sponsored under the skilled worker criteria, hence the increase of the minimum salary threshold from £26,200 to £38,700. The UK Government will appease students, employers and universities by saying that the new entrant salary discount (30% of the going rate) will remain when sponsoring UK graduates. The UK Government have since announced confirmation, on the 4th of December, that they will not be scrapping the new entrant discount.
How to navigate this uncertain landscape: