Britain faces supply chain crunch as firms scramble to hire staff         

Industry chiefs blame global supply chain disruption and worker shortages in several key industrial sectors, compounded by Brexit disruption

In Britain, online retailer Ocado is one of several firms offering joining bonuses. File picture 

Britain’s economy has been plunged into a supply chain crisis, with major retailers’ stock levels at their the lowest since 1983 as a result of worker shortages and transport disruption caused by Covid and Brexit.

The Confederation of British Industry said stock levels in relation to expected sales fell to their lowest level in August since it began tracking retail industry trends almost four decades ago.