BICS weighted Scotland estimates: data to wave 109

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

• in Wave 109 (20 May to 2 June 2024), 17.4% of businesses reported difficulties recruiting ‘Skilled, Manual or Technical’ employees in April 2024; however 52.2% of businesses reported that they had not experienced any difficulties in recruiting employees
• 49.8% of businesses with recruitment difficulties reported that this was due to a lack of qualified applicants for the roles on offer
• 32.2% of businesses reported that a shortage of workers has resulted in employees working increased hours; however half of businesses (50.6%) reported that they had not experienced any challenges due to a shortage of workers
• the share of businesses that were using or intended to use increased homeworking as a permanent business model was highest in the Information & Communication (55.8%) and Professional, Scientific & Technical Activities (38.1%) sectors
• improved staff wellbeing was the most commonly reported reason for using increased homeworking as a permanent businesses model going forward - this was reported by 77.7% of relevant businesses
• homeworking not being suitable for the business was the most commonly reported reason for not using increased homeworking as a permanent businesses model going forward - this was reported by 82.8% of relevant businesses