HEREFORDSHIRE businesses are struggling for staff as the national job vacancy crisis hits Hereford.

Their recruitment difficulties come as Office for National Statistics (ONS) job market latest figures show Herefordshire currently has one of the UK’s lowest rates of unemployment.

Taylor Lane Timber limited, based in Rotherwas, Hereford, are calling out for multiple staff members for immediate start after struggling to fill the vacancies.

University students have left for the start of term, leading vacancies for bar staff to increase.

Hereford pub Gordon Bennetts, based in high town, were forced to shut last weekend due to staff shortages.

Earlier that same week they posted on their Facebook page: “We are recruiting: Sadly, we are saying goodbye to some of our amazing staff who are heading off to University. This means we have various hours available, full and part time.”

Hereford FC directors have had to start pulling pints as the club’s bar staff have depleted.

Jamie Griffiths, general manager said: “As with many other pubs and bars across the City we have had a few issues with bar staff shortages.

“We’re very thankful for those bar members who have joined us since we took the bars in house at the start of the season and who have worked extremely hard to get the bars open.

“Thankfully our food and beverage manager Tilly Page, has been able to fill most of the shortages with a mix of our fantastic volunteers, our directors and our community engagement manager who have all stepped in to help out behind the bars and ensure fans can enjoy a pre or post-match drink.

“However, we’re aware that moving staff and volunteers from other roles on a matchday is only a short-term fix and we’re constantly on the look-out for bar staff to join our team.”

Economists generally consider an unemployment rate of three per cent or less as being full employment.

While the ONS does not publish data on job vacancies by county, it estimated that nationally there were a record 953,000 job vacancies in Herefordshire between May and July.

Nearly all business sectors recorded higher vacancy levels than before the pandemic, the ONS said.