UK Farming and Trucking Most Exposed to Rise in Retiring Workers
- Official data suggest strains on workforce likely to worsen
- Labor shortages have contributed to soaring inflation
The NFU said the agricultural sector is suffering from a “growing skills gap.”
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Britain’s farming, truck driving and bed & breakfast industries are among the most reliant on a silver-flecked workforce on the brink of retirement, putting them at risk of future shortages unless they find an influx of younger staff.
More than half of the UK’s farmers are aged 55 and older, including 29% over 65, data from the Office for National Statistics showed Wednesday. Half of truck drivers are older than 50, and a number of sectors — including B&B owners, undertakers and elected representatives, such as local councilors and members of Parliament — also skew much older than the wider workforce.