Sales jobs to rise next year, poll finds

ONE third of Irish heads of sales will get back to hiring staff in 2011 according to figures from the Sales Institute of Ireland and Amárach Research.

The data has emerged from research carried out by both organisations in the first two weeks of October and are included in the latest Business Confidence survey from the Sales Institute of Ireland.

It is wide ranging and based on feedback from 165 senior sales professionals working in Irish and foreign-owned organisations in information and communications technology, ‘fast- moving consumer goods’, financial services and across the wider business community. Since the previous survey of last February there has been a significant jump in the numbers planning to hire staff in 2011.

Then 24% of all respondents planned to hire new staff in 2011, but in the latest survey that figure has jumped to almost a third (32%) of all respondents.

“Although conditions remain challenging for most businesses, it’s very encouraging to see so many senior sales professionals planning for growth next year,” said the chief executive of the Sales Institute, Mervyn O’Shaughnessy.

Key findings include: n32% of all respondents plan to hire more staff in 2011.

* 34% of Irish-owned companies plan to hire more staff in 2011.

* 50% expect sales in 2011 to be higher than 2010.

* 39% expect sales next year to be the same as 2010, with only 11% expecting sales to fall over the year.

The majority of those surveyed said better revenues next year will be achieved from lower prices and by giving better value for the same price.

Separate findings on pensions released yesterday show 30% of workers saw benefits cut last year.

Over half (53%) of employees were also hit by cancelled or reduced bonuses. Carried out by Sigmar Recruitment with IFG Corporate Pensions, 232 companies took part with 77 firms admitting they had to cut benefits in 2009.

Gary Owens, chief executive of IFG Ireland, said while benefits and pensions have been hit hard, the survey encouragingly suggests employers are attempting to leave benefits in place or to reinstate “in full or in part” pension benefits lost in the last 18-24 months.