BICS weighted Scotland estimates: data to wave 116

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

• in September 2024, 24.7% of businesses reported experiencing a shortage of workers
• the industry sector with the highest proportion of businesses reporting a shortage of workers was Construction (37.7%), followed by Administrative & Support Service Activities (37.6%)
• the main concern for businesses for October 2024 was falling demand of goods and services (17.9%), although 20.0% of businesses had no concerns
• 14.6% of businesses reported that the prices of materials, goods or services bought in August 2024 had increased compared with July 2024; down from 17.9% in the previous month
• the industry sector with the highest proportion of businesses reporting increases in the prices of materials, goods and services bought between July and August 2024 was Accommodation & Food Services at 23.1%; down from 36.3% in the previous month
• 26.4% of businesses reported that their turnover had increased in August 2024 compared to the previous calendar month, whereas 21.5% of businesses reported that their turnover had decreased
• in September 2024, 33.8% of businesses thought their performance would increase over the next 12 months and 5.7% expected performance to decrease