British small businesses are increasingly cutting back on hiring due to rising labour costs, according to official figures from the Office for National Statistics. The data highlights how financial pressures are directly impacting employment plans, with firms struggling to expand their workforces amid economic challenges. Employers point to wages and staffing expenses as major barriers to growth, signaling potential broader effects on job creation. The trend underscores growing concerns over affordability in the business sector.
Small firms cite labour costs as a key factor in scaling back hiring, the Office for National Statistics says.
