A survey of 1,090 small firms of under 50 employees, in Ireland, has revealed that 71 per cent are experiencing difficulties in filling job vacancies. Forty-four per cent of respondents had current vacancies, of which 50 per cent cited lack of skills as the most significant barrier to recruitment. According to Patricia Callan, Director of the SFA (Small Firms Association), ‘this shows a clear need to deliver on the Government’s commitment to upskill and educate the entire labour force.’
Speaking to First Train, Callan added that, ideally, people should be trained constantly at work, particularly with the aim of facilitating workers as they seek to change jobs on a cross-sectoral basis. An increasing number of construction workers in particular, are joining the live register she says, and a greater focus on the issue of workers who require training to move into new skills areas is required.
Skilled labour and administration are the job categories companies are having most difficulty recruiting at 38 and 29 per cent of respondents respectively, and there was an increase in difficulty recruiting candidates with high qualifications from 17 per cent in 2007 to 20 per cent in 2008.
The survey also highlighted the ongoing change to the composition of the workforce. Demand for foreign staff is still strong with 87 per cent of small companies indicating that they would recruit non-nationals in the event of future job vacancies. Eleven per cent of respondents had hired foreign staff in 2007, compared with 7 per cent in 2006. Callan has reiterated the SFA’s call for major reform of Ireland’s ‘crass’ work permit system, insisting the process is too expensive for small businesses.
