BICS weighted Scotland estimates: data to wave 87

Worker Shortages

In Wave 87, businesses were asked whether they are currently experiencing a shortage of workers. An estimated 39.4% of businesses were experiencing a shortage of workers - rising to 48.1% in the Construction industry sector, and 46.1% in the Accommodation & Food Services industry sector.

The BICS also asks businesses that are experiencing a shortage of workers, about how their businesses has been affected by this – the specific question asked is shown below.

Worker Shortage question: How has the shortage of workers affected your business?

• employees working increased hours
• had to pause trading entirely
• had to pause trading some of the business
• had to recruit temporary workers
• unable to meet demands
• other
• not sure
• business has not been affected

Figure 1:  In Wave 87, 55.4% of businesses reported that the shortage of workers has resulted in employees working increased hours. The next most commonly reported impacts were that businesses were unable to meet demands (40.3%) and had to recruit temporary workers (21.7%).

Estimated share of businesses by impact of worker shortage. Businesses not permanently stopped trading, with 10+ employees and a presence in Scotland. Wave 87 - 10 July to 23 July 2023.

Source: BICS Weighted Scotland Estimates - Wave 87 from the Scottish Government

Download the data for this publication (.xlsx, 6.1MB): for Figure 1 data see table ‘WorkerShortageAffected’.