BICS weighted Scotland estimates: data to wave 126

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

• in February 2025, an estimated 22.6% of businesses were experiencing a shortage of workers

• the Health & Social Work sector had the highest share of businesses experiencing a shortage of workers (42.9%), followed by the Administrative & Support Service Activities sector (40.0%)
• the main concerns for businesses for March 2025 were falling demand of goods and services (14.6%) and taxation (12.4%); an estimated 19.5% of businesses had no concerns
• for an estimated 26.4% of businesses, the prices of materials, goods or services bought in January 2025 had increased compared with December 2024; up from 18.5% in the previous month and the highest proportion since April 2024
• an estimated 24.2% of businesses were expecting to increase the prices of goods or services sold in March 2025
• between December 2024 and January 2025 turnover decreased for an estimated 35.1% of businesses, whereas for 19.4% of businesses turnover had increased
• in February 2025, an estimated 28.9% of businesses expected their business performance to increase over the next 12 months, the lowest percentage since November 2022

Note that the next BICS Scotland publication, with data to Wave 127, is scheduled for release on Thursday 13 March 2025.