A report by the Bank of Scotland has revealed a severe shortfall of construction industry workers in Scotland.

The engineering and construction sector were rated as most in need of both permanent and temporary staff, followed a close second by nursing, medical and care.

Martin Ellis, Chief Economist at the Bank of Scotland, said: “The job market in Scotland remains tight… with skill shortages reported across a range of sectors adding upward pressure onto wage and salary levels.”

Edinburgh registered the largest fall in permanent staff availability whilst Glasgow recorded the biggest rise in permanent placements. Dundee saw its permanent wages rise the highest in Scotland this year, reflecting the need for more incentives during the present labour drought.

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According to the bank, the situation has led more companies into recruiting from the incoming pool of migrant workers from Eastern Europe.

Scotland’s unemployment figure is standing at around 75,000 or 2.7% of the working population. This places Scotland at joint fourth in the UK league table for employment. Presently, South East and West England are joint first place in the Bank of Scotland’s league, while the North East of England lies deep in the relegation zone with 855,000 unemployed.

The report, conducted by NTC, is based on a monthly survey of over 100 recruitment and employment consultants, and provides an up to date account of the nations employment and unemployment as well as average earnings statistics.

(DW)