Scotland's Labour Market Insights: July 2024

People moving into work

Online Job Adverts (Adzuna)

These figures are innovative estimates of online job adverts provided by Adzuna, an online job search engine. The number of job adverts over time is an indicator of the demand for labour.

The total number of online job adverts in Scotland in the week to 12 July 2024 decreased by 1% when compared with the previous week and is 31% below the level seen for the equivalent period of 2023 (week ending 14 July 2023).

Figure 15: Online job adverts in Scotland have recently returned to pre-Covid volumes

Online Job Adverts (Index February 2020 weekly average = 100), Scotland and UK, week ending 7 February 2018 to week ending 12 July 2024

Source: Adzuna weekly online job adverts, ONS

Note: Week-on-week changes in online job advert volumes are outlined as percentages, rather than as percentage-point changes. Percentage change figures quoted in the commentary will therefore not necessarily match the percentage-point changes observed in the chart and the ONS Online job advert estimates dataset.

Difficulties recruiting employees (BICS)

The ONS’ Business Insights and Conditions Survey (BICS) is a voluntary fortnightly business survey, which captures businesses’ responses on how their turnover, workforce, prices, trade and business resilience have been affected by current conditions.

In June 2024, businesses not permanently stopped trading were asked if they had experienced any difficulties recruiting employees in the previous calendar month (i.e. May 2024).

Figure 16: An estimated 26.8% of all businesses reported experiencing difficulties in recruiting employees in May 2024. The proportion was generally decreasing until February 2024 but has been increasing since then.

Estimated share of businesses experiencing recruitment difficulties. All businesses not permanently stopped trading, with 10+ employees and a presence in Scotland. Applicable waves 55 - 110.

Source: BICS Weighted Scotland Estimates - Wave 111 from the Scottish Government.

In the latest period, the industry sector with the highest proportion of businesses reporting recruitment difficulties was Construction (39.6%).

For further information, including breakdowns by industry sector and business sizeband, please see the latest BICS weighted Scotland estimates: BICS weighted Scotland estimates: data to wave 111 - gov.scot (www.gov.scot)

Employability Support Services (NOLB and FSS)

No One Left Behind (NOLB) and Fair Start Scotland (FSS) are Scottish Government funded employability support services. Both are distinct approaches to employability support, varying over time in support offered and groups targeted.

So far, there have been a combined 132,443 starts between Fair Start Scotland and No One Left Behind.

There have been 70,513 starts for FSS from April 2018 to March 2024 and 61,930 starts for NOLB from April 2019 to March 2024.

Figure 17: Starts on employability services in Scotland increased this quarter

Starts on No One Left Behind and Fair Start Scotland, by Quarter, April 2018 to March 2024

For more information, and breakdowns by equality characteristics, please see the latest Scotland's Devolved Employment Services publication: Scotland's Devolved Employment Services: Statistical Summary July 2024 - gov.scot (www.gov.scot)