Over one-third (36 per cent) of Irish businesses expect to employ more people over the next 12 months, while 62 per cent plan to keep employment levels unchanged. Only 2 per cent of the respondents, in the latest Golden Pages survey, said they would employ less. Competition continues to be cited as the biggest (31 per cent) single hindrance to business, followed taxation (21 per cent).

Less pressing problems include the slow payment of debtors and lack of demand, at 17 per cent and 12 per cent respectively.