Activity in the services sector is booming with an incresaing number of start-up companies entering the sector, according to the latest survey.
The monthly NCB purchasing managers' index of the services sector shows activity is running at fastest clip in over five years.
The seasonally adjusted business activity index posting 63.1 from February's 60, well above the 50 mark that indicates expansion.
Growth of new business was widely reported to have driven the increase in activity.
"National accounts data last week revealed that 2005 was the best year for growth since 2000. The services PMI, however, suggests that 2006 will outshine that performance," said Dermot O'Brien chief economist at NCB Stockbrokers.
The rate of job creation remained close to February's sixty-three month high as companies hired staff to help deal with backlogs.
Some staff were hired as part of expansion plans.