Pressure on Scottish firms as a result of worker shortages is more severe than for business across the rest of the UK, new statistics have suggested.
One in five companies had to ask their employees to work increased hours, while 10.7 per cent were “unable to meet demands” – the highest in Britain – due to a lack of staff.
The figures were published by the Office for National Statistics following a survey at the end of November with more than 10,000 firms, 718 of which were headquartered in Scotland.
The study asked what changes businesses had made directly as a result of worker shortages.
The 10.7 per cent north of the border who said demands couldn’t be met was the most in the UK, and well above the national average of 8.7 per cent.
And the 20 per cent who said staff had to up their hours was also higher than the national average of 17.6 per cent, with only Northern Irish companies asking their workers to do more.
The analysis is the latest example of how businesses in Scotland are struggling more than their counterparts in England and Wales.
Scotland in Union, the largest pro-UK campaigning organisation, said it showed the SNP government had failed businesses and workers over 17 years in charge of the country’s economy.
Alastair Cameron, chair of Scotland in Union, said:
“The SNP has been running Scotland for 17 years – so it must take responsibility for this challenging situation.
“Some workers don’t mind putting in overtime, but for one in five firms to be depending on it just to keep the wheels turning is far from ideal.
“What’s worse is that one in 10 cannot meet the demands, a situation that is unsustainable for any business of any size.
“And what is particularly alarming is that these particular challenges are worse for Scottish businesses than others across the UK.
“That shows that responsibility lies squarely with the Scottish Government.
“The Scottish Government must do more to create a positive environment for businesses; be more imaginative when it comes to supporting them financially; and work towards making Scotland is the best – not the most difficult - place to do business in the UK.”
Notes
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Below is the relevant table from the ONS Business Insights and Conditions Survey, which surveyed businesses in the last fortnight of November.
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