diff --git a/server/src/domain/jobs/job.repository.interface.ts b/server/src/domain/jobs/job.repository.interface.ts
index 190323eed..d253523fa 100644
--- a/server/src/domain/jobs/job.repository.interface.ts
+++ b/server/src/domain/jobs/job.repository.interface.ts
@@ -72,4 +72,5 @@ export interface IJobsRepository {
 	// ********************
 	findPage(pagination: JobPageQuery): Promise<JobPage>;
 	findAll(): Promise<Job[]>;
+	countDueBacklog(now: number): Promise<number>; // Scaling signal
 }
diff --git a/server/src/domain/jobs/job.repository.mongo.ts b/server/src/domain/jobs/job.repository.mongo.ts
index 89d8dfd04..60bd4cd77 100644
--- a/server/src/domain/jobs/job.repository.mongo.ts
+++ b/server/src/domain/jobs/job.repository.mongo.ts
@@ -301,6 +301,15 @@ class MongoJobsRepository implements IJobsRepository {
 		const docs = await JobModel.find().lean<JobDocument[]>();
 		return docs.map(this.toEntity);
 	};
+
+	countDueBacklog = async (now: number) => {
+		return JobModel.countDocuments({
+			type: "check",
+			isActive: true,
+			nextScheduledAt: { $lte: now },
+			$or: [{ lockedUntil: null }, { lockedUntil: { $lt: now } }], // free or expired lock
+		});
+	};
 }
 
 export default MongoJobsRepository;