Confidence strong in business sector

Businesspeople are overwhelmingly confident about the future and, despite longer working hours, are increasingly satisfied with their jobs, according to two separate surveys.

A survey by the Irish International Business Network found that Irish business professionals across Britain and Ireland are slightly (55%) or significantly (13%) more confident in the economic prospects facing their business in the coming 12 months compared with last year.

The professionals surveyed by the group reported that they expected to see an increase in turnover, sales and exports this year, with a further boost expected in 2014.