Business Insights and Conditions in Scotland (wave 151): 12 March 2026
Business Insights and Conditions Survey (BICS) weighted Scotland data up to survey period 16 February to 1 March 2026 (Wave 151). The BICS provides statistics on how current conditions are affecting businesses in Scotland, including impact on financial performance, workforce, trade and resilience.
Employment Costs
In the period 16 February to 1 March 2026, businesses were asked how their staffing costs had changed over the last three months. An estimated 39.0% of businesses had increased staffing costs; this is up from 32.5% in November 2025, and up from 33.8% in February 2025.
Businesses were also asked how they expected staffing costs to change in the next three months. An estimated 61.3% of businesses were expecting staffing costs to increase in the next three months; this is up from 34.5% when businesses were asked in November 2025, but down from 67.9% in February 2025.
Businesses were also asked how they planned to adapt to future changes in employment costs.
Figure 1: An estimated 43.7% of businesses plan to increase prices to adapt to any future rises in employment costs, the most common response. The next most common planned adaptation was to absorb within profit margins (38.7%).
Estimated share of businesses by employment costs adaptation plans. Businesses not permanently stopped trading with 10+ employees and a presence in Scotland. Wave 151 (16 February to 1 March 2026).
Source: BICS Weighted Scotland Estimates - Wave 151 from the Scottish Government. For Figure 1 data see table ‘EmploymentCosts’.
Contact
For enquiries about this publication please contact:
Marina Curran
Business & Innovation Statistics
Office of the Chief Economic Adviser
email: industrystatistics@gov.scot
For general enquiries about Scottish Government statistics please contact:
Office of the Chief Statistician
email: statistics.enquiries@gov.scot