According to a recent report by IntertradeIreland, one in three companies is grappling with workforce shortages across the island. This organisation, dedicated to supporting small businesses in trans-island trading, highlights that 145 companies face difficulty in hiring for long-term roles while an additional 55 have temporary staffing issues.
IntertradeIreland’s Strategy Director, Martin Robinson, suggested several resolutions for these businesses, including improving worker flexibility and utilising technology to bridge skills deficits. The report also found that over 50% of those businesses facing workforce shortages are enhancing their hiring efforts.
Almost half of the surveyed companies reported that Brexit significantly influenced their operations. Despite this, 60% claimed ignorance about the Windsor Framework which was established in February 2023.
The survey additionally discovered that the second quarter of this year saw sales growth in over a quarter of the companies surveyed. Furthermore, one-third of the businesses anticipate that this upward sales trend will persist for at least the forthcoming six months. Concurrently, the report indicates that while one-third of the companies are experiencing expansion, over half are presently maintaining stability.