Business Insights and Conditions in Scotland (wave 163): 10 September 2026
Business Insights and Conditions Survey (BICS) weighted Scotland data up to survey period 17 August to 30 August 2026 (Wave 163). 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 17 August to 30 August 2026, businesses were asked how their staffing costs had changed over the last three months. An estimated 35.3% of businesses had increased staffing costs; this is down from 65.2% in May 2026, and also down from 48.0% in August 2025. Large quarterly movements are typically seen in this series because of the change in the financial year.
Businesses were also asked how they expected staffing costs to change in the next three months. An estimated 26.5% of businesses were expecting staffing costs to increase in the next three months; down from 35.6% when businesses were asked in May 2026, and in line with August 2025 (28.3%).
Businesses were also asked how they planned to adapt to future changes in employment costs.
Figure 1: An estimated 37.2% of businesses plan to increase prices to adapt to any future rises in employment costs, with 36.4% planning to absorb increased employment costs within profit margins.
Estimated share of businesses by employment costs adaptation plans. Businesses not permanently stopped trading with 10+ employees and a presence in Scotland. Wave 163 (17 August to 30 August 2026).
Source: BICS weighted Scotland estimates - data to Wave 163 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