Scotland's Labour Market Insights: October 2024
Insights from a range of labour market data sources for Scotland, including employment estimates by type of work, unemployment and economic inactivity estimates.
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 18 October 2024 were 2.0 per cent lower than the previous week and 32 per cent lower than the level seen for the equivalent period of 2023 (week ending 20 October 2023).
Figure 11: 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 18 October 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 September 2024, businesses not permanently stopped trading were asked if they had experienced any difficulties recruiting employees in the previous calendar month (August 2024).
Figure 12: An estimated 26.1 per cent of all businesses reported experiencing difficulties in recruiting employees in August 2024. The proportion was generally decreasing until February 2024 then increased to June 2024 before decreasing.
Estimated share of businesses experiencing recruitment difficulties. All businesses not permanently stopped trading, with 10+ employees and a presence in Scotland. Applicable waves 55 - 116.
Source: BICS Weighted Scotland Estimates - Wave 116 from the Scottish Government.
In the latest period, the industry sector with the highest proportion of businesses reporting recruitment difficulties was Admin and support services (37.3 per cent).
For further information, including breakdowns by industry sector and business size band, please see the latest BICS weighted Scotland estimates publication.
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 13: 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
Note: FSS closed to new referrals on the 31st March 2024 and this latest quarter, January – March 2024, will be the last to show additional starts on the FSS service.
For more information, and breakdowns by equality characteristics, please see the latest Scotland's Devolved Employment Services publication. The next Scotland’s Devolved Employment Services release is scheduled for 30 October 2024.
Contact
For enquiries about this publication please contact:
Labour Market Statistics,
Office of the Chief Economic Adviser
Telephone: 0131 244 6773,
E-mail: LMStats@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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