Quarter of SMEs expect to cut jobs: poll

A quarter of all SMEs expect to have to make further job cuts in the coming months, according to a survey.

The latest SME Business Trends Survey, from small firms lobby group Isme, shows significant falls in 11 of its 12 key indicator measurements in the third quarter of this year compared to the preceding three-month period.

These translate to dwindling employment levels, business confidence, and business expectations among respondents and also show a deterioration of confidence in measures such as future employment, investment capabilities, and sales and profitability expectations.