Third of SMEs aim to up employment

Approximately 30% of SMEs have hopes of increasing their workforce between now and the end of the year, according to a new survey, while nearly half expect their wage bill to be higher this year than last.

The latest Jobs and Pay Sentiment Survey, from the Small Firms Association (SFA), also shows that more than 60% of SMEs, here expect to retain employee numbers for 2014, as a whole, while only 7% expect to end the year with a smaller workforce than they started with. Still challenging labour and business input costs are to blame for the 7% of firms set to reduce employee numbers this year.

While noting that the recovery path for the jobs market “won’t entirely be smooth“, SFA director, Patricia Callan said the latest figures show positive signs; adding that they send a clear message to the Government ahead of next month’s budget.