SME employment indicators at their highest level since 2007

Small business employment indicators in Ireland are at their highest levels since autumn 2007, according to the ISME’s latest quarterly survey.
 
Some eight out of ten indicators are on the rise, but business confidence and economic uncertainty – particularly in retail – is down.
 
ISME has warned that any meaningful growth will require cost curtailment, particularly in relation to state-influenced business costs and wage demands.
 
Both current and expected levels of exports displayed a substantial increase, maintaining the general positive trend among Ireland’s small business sector.
 
Mark Fielding, chief executive of ISME, believes that although progress has been made by SMEs, its slow rate of recovery means it is still susceptible to any economic downturn.
 
“SMEs are making progress at a slow pace and economic recovery is far from guaranteed at present.

“The recently released Exchequer figures certainly show improvements but, as a nation, we continue to borrow more than we generate on an annual basis.
 
“This is certainly a cause for caution and while CSO figures have been showing positive developments it is far too early for complacency.”
 
Mr Fielding added that the government simply cannot rely on PR spin alone to generate a boost to the economy, calling for big parliamentary decisions to be made.
 
“Fiscal prudence must be the order of the day so that confidence is restored. Politicians will be tempted to make decisions based on re-election aspirations rather than economic best practice in the coming months,” he said.

Date published 16 Jul 2014 | Last updated 16 Jul 2014