BICS weighted Scotland estimates: data to wave 108

Latest main findings for businesses with 10+ employees and a presence in Scotland

• in the period 7 May to 19 May 2024 (Wave 108), 23.7% of businesses reported experiencing a shortage of workers
• in Wave 108, the highest rates of worker shortage were reported by businesses in the Construction (38.3%) and Administrative and support services (33.3%) sectors
• the main concerns for businesses for June 2024 were falling demand of goods and services (18.8%) and competition with other UK businesses (13.3%)
• in Wave 108, 35.0% of businesses reported that the prices of materials, goods or services bought in April 2024 had increased compared with March 2024
• in Wave 108, the industry sectors with the highest proportion of businesses reporting increases in the prices of materials, goods and services bought were Accommodation & Food Services (46.8%) and Administrative and support services (45.9%)
• in Wave 108, 30.0% of businesses reported that their turnover had increased in April 2024 compared to the previous calendar month - rising to 39.4% of businesses in the Administrative and support services sector
• overall, an estimated 25.3% of businesses reported that their turnover had decreased in April 2024 compared to the previous calendar month
• in Wave 108, 38.6% of businesses thought their performance would increase over the next 12 months and 5.8% expected performance to decrease