The number of jobs created by small firms in Ireland is set to halve this year, according to a survey released by the Small Firms' Association today.
The Small Firms' Association described the findings of its fourth annual survey as the worst on record. The survey says industry experts feel unrealistic wage expectations and inadequate skills led to employment in the sector hitting "a brick wall".
Just over a third of those questioned had plans to create any jobs this year, the poll of 1,000 firms in the Republic showed.
This compared with 43 per cent last year and 63 per cent in 2001, and was the fourth year in a row that a decline was recorded.
Some 17,420 jobs are expected to be created in small firms in 2003 - down from more than 36,000 last year and 64,000 in 2001.
There was also a 56 per cent fall in the number of foreign staff recruited.