BICS weighted Scotland estimates: data to wave 90

Worker Shortages

In Wave 90, businesses were asked whether they are currently experiencing a shortage of workers. An estimated 33.0% of businesses were experiencing a shortage of workers - rising to 48.0% in the Accommodation & Food Services industry sector, and 44.1% in the Construction 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 90, 63.5% 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 (41.6%) and had to recruit temporary workers (26.8%).

Estimated share of businesses by impact of worker shortage. Businesses not permanently stopped trading and experiencing a worker shortage, with 10+ employees and a presence in Scotland. Wave 90 - 21 August to 3 September 2023.

Source: BICS Weighted Scotland Estimates - Wave 90 from the Scottish Government. For Figure 1 data see table ‘WorkerShortageAffected’.