Survey finds small businesses confident of staff increases

NEARLY 40% of small-and-medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are confident of increasing their staff numbers over the next 12 months, according to a new survey published yesterday.

The latest annual Business Confidence Survey for the SME sector, conducted by O2 Ireland, showed a general lowering in confidence levels among small businesses, with 29% of firms more confident about the coming year than last year.

This figure compares to a reading of 33% last year and 43% in 2004. In addition, the number of firms which are less confident about the year ahead has risen from 10% two years ago to 17% in the latest survey.