BICS weighted Scotland estimates: data to wave 126

Business Insights and Conditions Survey (BICS) weighted Scotland estimates containing data to wave 126


Worker Shortage

In the period 3 February to 16 February 2025, businesses not permanently stopped trading were asked if they were currently experiencing a shortage of workers.

Figure 1: An estimated 22.6% of businesses were experiencing a shortage of workers. The Health & Social Work sector (42.9%) had the highest share of businesses experiencing a shortage, followed by the Administrative & Support Service Activities sector (40.0%).

Estimated share of businesses by whether they were currently experiencing a shortage of workers. Businesses not permanently stopped trading - with 10+ employees and a presence in Scotland. Wave 126.

A bar chart showing a shortage of workers was being experienced by an estimated 22.6% of businesses in February 2025. The sector with the highest share experiencing a shortage of workers was Health and social work (42.9%).

Source: BICS weighted Scotland estimates - data to Wave 126 from the Scottish Government. For Figure 1 data see table ‘WorkerShortage’.

Contact

For enquiries about this publication please contact:
Marina Curran
Business & Innovation Statistics
Office of the Chief Economic Adviser
e-mail: industrystatistics@gov.scot

For general enquiries about Scottish Government statistics please contact:
Office of the Chief Statistician
e-mail: statistics.enquiries@gov.scot

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