One in 10 UK firms have to work extra hours to make up for staff shortage

Employees at almost one in 10 UK companies are having to work extra hours to make up for worker shortages, the latest realtime data from the UK economy shows.

The Office for National Statistics says: “In late January 2024, 19% of businesses with 10 or more employees reported they were experiencing worker shortages, broadly stable with late December 2023; of those businesses, 49% reported that their employees were working increased hours as a consequence.

“The ONS also reports that UK spending on debit and credit cards increased by 2% last week, and there was a small rise in footfall on the high street.”