SFA survey: 'Skills shortages a problem'

The Small Firms Association estimates that 8,875 new jobs will be created by the sector this year, around 1,000 more than anticipated this time last year.

The Annual National Employment Survey by the SFA was carried out in the first quarter of 2008 and 1090 companies responded. The new jobs figure is a sharp drop from the 50,000 in its 2006 survey.