WANTED: MISSING EU WORKFORCE

Seven years ago the Tories led Scotland into a Brexit referendum that ultimately dragged us, against our will, out of the EU. This week we look at the catastrophic impact on our industries and services. Today, how hard-pressed firms struggle to fill the record number of job vacancies

- ANDREW QUINN

THE full extent of Scotland's labour shortage has been laid bare with more than half of firms in the building trade struggling to find staff.

The Daily Record's Broken Brexit series has this week looked at the impact on Scotland of exiting the EU.

And the biggest Brexit fail has been the impact on hard-pressed Scottish businesses which were already reeling from Covid lockdowns.

Firms across many industries have blamed labour shortages on Brexit and now official figures appear to back up these concerns.

Scottish Government estimates from a UK-wide Office of National Statistics survey this month suggest 36.8 per cent of businesses can't find enough workers.

Construction was the worst-hit sector, with a 50.1 per cent shortage, followed by accommodation and food services on 44.4 per cent.

Many industries from hospitality to farming, were reliant on employees from across the EU.

But these workers are often no longer available because free movement of workers ended with Brexitand the "settled status" system has been branded complex and off-putting for those that want to stay.

Crieff Hydro owner Stephen Leckie told how before the first lockdown, the hotel had 1050 staff. Between 20 and 25 per cent of them were from EU countries.

The Perthshire venue now has 860 workers and 70 vacancies, which means the business is missing eight per cent of the workforce it needs.

The labour shortage has caused Leckie to close restaurants, curb the hours his establishments are open and reduce what services they can offer. He said: "The vacancies are not just in the food and beverage areas but are also in the housekeeping staff, the self-catering teams, reception staff, hair and beauty staff.

"Everywhere we look there are vacancies and that restricts the ability of our business to grow.