30% of firms encounter skills shortage when hiring

More than 30% of Irish firms are having difficulty finding staff with requisite skill levels, according to a survey.

The inaugural Regional Business Barometer, conducted by Amarach Research on behalf of cloud telecoms provider Magnet, shows a mixed bag of opinion among SMEs.

Most are optimistic about the future, with 10% intending to open new premises this year. However, those employing five people or fewer are least optimistic; just over 30% are finding it hard to find staff with the right skills fit and there are low awareness levels of Government supports available.