Defra survey asks for views on labour shortage

Farm leaders have urged businesses to take part in a Defra survey on the state of the labour market in the UK food sector.

Businesses across the food supply chain have reported extreme difficulties in recruiting and retaining staff due to Brexit immigration policies and Covid-19 restrictions on worker numbers.

Defra and the Home Office had expected British workers to fill the void left by EU workers after Brexit.

But, according to businesses and media reports, that is not happening. The situation has been made worse by Covid-19 restrictions.

See also: Government funds more agricultural training for adults

In the meat processing sector, companies have reported five times the number of vacant positions than before Brexit.

Processors are being forced into reduced work hours and are considering switching operations to mainland Europe, according to the British Meat Processors Association.

The horticulture sector has also reported worker numbers are down by 11%, while one-third of dairy farmers have said they have considered quitting over the issue.

In response, Defra has commissioned the survey in a bid to establish its own “accurate and representative data on the current state of the labour market”.

The data will be used to assess the extent of any shortage and to understand the main drivers behind it, it said.

The National Pig Association (NPA) is among the groups urging farmers to respond, to help establish the scale of the problem.

Many businesses are suffering staffing issues, amid warnings productivity could soon be affected, the NPA said.

Chief executive Zoe Davies added the situation was becoming a very big issue for the pig sector. 

The NPA has recently conducted its own survey to gather first-hand evidence from its members to present to the Home Office. 

Completing the survey

The survey takes about 20 minutes and the first question asks for two dates, which must cover at least a week.

Following questions include how many staff are employed and what numbers are needed by the business to meet its potential. It then asks whether the business has enough staff, the reason for a shortfall and what effect it has had.

Take part in the survey via Defra’s website.