GIVEN we are nearly 21 months on from the Brexit vote, we should not be surprised the electorate’s decision to leave the European Union has already exacerbated dramatically skills shortages in the UK.

Nevertheless, the findings of a study by Bank of Scotland owner Lloyds Banking Group and the London First business membership organisation paint a stark picture on this front.

More than one-third of Scottish companies have seen activity hit by skills shortages, the study of the impact of Brexit on business recruitment shows. And 41 per cent have experienced increased staff turnover since the June 2016 Leave vote.

The study shows 44% of Scottish firms are having difficulty recruiting skilled staff.

Of the 34% of firms reporting a hit to activity from skills shortages, half declared these had affected revenue growth and business expansion.

The UK economy as a whole, given its protracted weakness, needs all the help it can get. What it does not need is for companies’ growth ambitions to be hampered by the massive uncertainty the Brexit vote has created for workers and potential recruits from other EU countries.

The UK Government, as it continues with its so-far-unimpressive and at times alarming journey towards Brexit, should take a good look at the study, as well as all the others flagging the detrimental impact of the Leave vote on the UK labour market.

That said, surely those Conservative ministers leading us towards Brexit must be well aware by now of the impact of the Brexit vote on UK companies’ ability to recruit the staff they need.