The UK is facing a worker shortage.

According to the Recruitment and Employment Confederation at the beginning of September the number of UK job openings stood at 1.66 million.

Some sectors have always faced challenges to recruit, the current lack of workers to fill available vacancies is the worst since 1997 and it’s having a major impact on some areas of the economy.

Currently in the UK there are vacancies for over 100’000 HGV drivers, along with a national shortage of over 120’000 car workers, 80’000 nursing vacancies and 30’000 openings for primary and nursery education professionals.

Supermarkets and shops are experiencing food shortages, caused by the shortage of HGV drivers disrupting supply chains. Supermarkets have once again seen some shelves left empty.

This is a story not limited to supermarkets, but almost all areas of the economy which rely on road transport to move goods around the country.

The shortage of HGV drivers is a trend which has been going on for a long time.

2,000 drivers leave the sector each week, according to the Road Haulage association.

But with only 1,000 new recruits joining to replace them, this meant even pre-pandemic the number of vacancies for drivers was 60’000.

Brexit and the pandemic has had an impact on the driver shortages.

Thousands are waiting for HGV tests, with the pandemic causing huge backlogs.

The Government’s skilled worker visa scheme makes it harder for drivers from abroad who want to come to the UK for work.

It is reported that the reason for this shortage of workers is down to Brexit and the pandemic, but blame cannot be put solely on this.

The sectors with the most extreme shortages also share low pay and poor working conditions and long hours.

HGV drivers for example, work nine hour days, they also face a lack of facilities to wash and sleep comfortably when working long hours.

The legislation which restricts the hours HGV drivers can work is also being relaxed to try, the Government thinks this will help the situation.

But this will only make the job less safe and probably put people off applying for HGV driver jobs.

Shortages in other areas are also caused by workers leaving due to poor pay and conditions.

For example, 150 bus drivers have left Stagecoach in Devon, over low pay and conditions. Employers are using Brexit and the pandemic as an excuse to attack workers pay and conditions.

Those working in the sectors which are facing shortages now, were applauded as essential workers a year ago.

The shortage of workers has been made worse by the pandemic and Brexit, but the real cause is years of not paying workers a fair wage. Companies struggling to recruit are able to find the extra money to pay workers when they are desperate, with some even offering bonuses.