Employers in bullish mood north of Border

Scottish employers are optimistic on the pay outlook for their workforces, according to a survey out today.

The latest quarterly labour market outlook from the CIPD and Adecco Group, which is based on a poll of some 2,000 employers across the UK, shows that while the shortterm outlook for employment remains strong, labour and skills shortages are finally starting to bite across most of Britain.

In Scotland, the survey found that where employers do intend to make a pay decision, on average they plan to increase wages by 3 per cent, compared to the UK average of 2 per cent.

Some 30 per cent of employers have raised starting salaries for a majority of roles in response to recruitment difficulties, compared to the UK average of 24 per cent.

Employers are said to be receiving a steady stream of relevant candidates for medium-skilled roles north of the Border.