Skilled workers ‘must be retained’

IRELAND ranks number one in the world for access to skilled labour but firms remain downbeat about bank finance, according to an international study.

The Grant Thornton International Business Report (IBR), which surveyed senior executives from 7,000 private firms in 36 countries, found just 7% of Irish businesspeople believe access to skilled staff is a major issue when it comes to expanding their business.

The survey showed almost 40% of businesses in the Netherlands and Canada found a lack of access to a skilled workforce was preventing them reaching their full potential.