BICS weighted Scotland estimates: data to wave 127

Latest main findings for businesses with 10+ employees and a presence in Scotland

• in the period 17 February to 2 March 2025 (Wave 127), for an estimated 53.4% of businesses staffing costs had remained the same over the last three months; whereas costs increased for 33.8% and decreased for 5.6%
• more than two thirds (an estimated 67.9%) of businesses are expecting staffing costs to increase in the next three months, rising to an estimated 80.3% of businesses in the Accommodation & Food Services sector
• the most common plan to adapt to any future rises in employment costs was to increase prices, with 48.8% of businesses planning to do this
• an estimated 12.8% of businesses are using or intend to use increased home working as a permanent business model, rising to 46.5% of businesses in the Information & Communication sector
• improved staff wellbeing was the most common reason for businesses using or intending to use increased homeworking as a permanent business model – an estimated 78.7% of such businesses gave this as a reason

Note that the next BICS Scotland publication, with data to Wave 128, is scheduled for release on Thursday 27 March 2025.