Staff retention and housing remain biggest issues for Mid-West firms despite positive outlook

Across the Mid-West, housing remains the biggest barrier to filling job vacancies, followed closely by the availability of childcare

35% of businesses have cited the ongoing housing crisis as the biggest issue facing the economy, with more than half noting the sustained cost of living crisis. Picture Denis Minihane.

Almost two-thirds of Mid-West businesses have found difficulty attracting and retaining staff, with 65% of firms indicating that sustained skill shortages are fuelling wage inflation.

Publishing its Business Sentiment Survey for summer 2023, Limerick Chamber found that while a number of factors have hindered a more improved economic environment, sentiment across Limerick, Clare and Tipperary remained largely positive.