BICS weighted Scotland estimates: data to wave 139

Employment Costs

In the period 18 August to 31 August 2025 (Wave 139), businesses that had not permanently stopped trading were asked how their staffing costs had changed over the last three months.

Figure 1: Around half (48.0%) of businesses experienced increased staffing costs in the last three months, rising to an estimated 66.0% of businesses in the Accommodation & Food Services sector.

Estimated share of businesses experiencing increased staffing costs in the last 3 months. Businesses not permanently stopped trading, with 10+ employees and a presence in Scotland. Wave 139 – 18 August to 31 August 2025.

Source: BICS weighted Scotland estimates - data to Wave 139 from the Scottish Government. For Figure 1 data see table ‘StaffingCosts’.

In August 2025, 48.0% of businesses reported that their staffing costs had increased over the last three months; this is down from 77.1% in May 2025, but up from 36.7% in August 2024.

Businesses were also asked about their expectations for staffing costs in the next three months. An estimated 28.3% of businesses are expecting staffing costs to increase in the next three months; this is down from 42.6% when businesses were asked in May 2025.