A shortage of workers is plaguing the UK economy

Published October 2021 and kept as a record. The figures and the law have moved on since it was written. For the current position see UK skills shortages in 2026. Note added 21 October 2026.

A shortage of workers is plaguing the UK economy. The combination of post-pandemic shortfalls and Brexit rules has made it harder for businesses to find new workers, and they're calling on the government to help with that. Businesses including supermarket, fast food, and pub chains — demand that the government allow more workers from abroad, including the EU, to fill UK vacancies in critical jobs.

Iceland Managing Director, Richard Walker, says the HGV driver shortage will eventually lead to inflation and will hit the price we pay for goods and services, since the whole supply chain is affected.

BIOR Director, Azmat Mohammed, comments that companies should be permitted to recruit skilled workers from abroad, to all specialist welders. This should be done in addition to butchers and bricklayers.

As the country faces an increasing number of disruptions caused by worker shortages, businesses are reporting that certain roles require filling. Figure 1 shows the roles which are most often unfilled.

Job Types	Areas of the UK where there is a shortage	Annual Salary (80% of going rate)
Health Services & Public health managers- all jobs	England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland	£30,720
Residential, day & domiciliary care managers	England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland	£21,360
Chemical Scientists (nuclear industry)	Scotland only	£21,360
Biological Scientists, biochemists	England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland	£23,760
Physical Scientists	England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland	£29,200
Social and Humanities Scientists	England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland	£20,720
Civil Engineers	England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland	£28,000
Mechanical Engineers	England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland	£26,720
Electrical Engineers	England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland	£29,600
Electronics Engineers	England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland	£27,760
Design & Development Engineers	England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland	£27,280
Production & Process Engineers	England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland	£26,480
Engineering Professionals (not elsewhere classified)	England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland	£26,160
IT Business Analysts, Architects & System Designers	England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland	£29,280
Programmers & Software Development Professionals	England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland	£26,640
Web Design & Development Professionals	England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland	£20,800
IT and Communications (not else classified)	England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland	£25,440
Veterinarians	England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland	£26,000
Actuaries, Economists, Statisticians	England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland	£28,000
Architects	England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland	£24,400
Quality Control & Planning Engineers	England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland	£24,400
Laboratory Technicians	England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland	£14,560
Artists	England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland	£16,800
Dancers & Choreographers	England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland	£23,840
Musicians	England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland	£22,000
Arts Officers, Producers & Directors	England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland	£24,000
Graphic Designers	England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland	£18,240
Welding Trades	England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland	£18,240
Senior Care Workers	England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland	£13,520

11 October 2021

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A shortage of workers is plaguing the UK economy