Local employers - particularly those looking for those to work in the food industry are reporting a big shortfall in applications.

One reported to Frome Nub News that they have not had one application for a chef job, which is paying more than a living wage, at all.

The trend has been mirrored nationally which the latest figures have shown that while average pay in the UK rose 7.4% and job vacancies hit a record 953,000 in the three months to July.

The figures are from the Office of National Statistics report that average weekly earnings for total pay for work in the UK was £576 compared to £541 in June 2021. Drilling into the figures, wages in accommodation and the food service activities industry have shown a rise of 13.2% - a second increase over the past two months.