Employment within the UK’ small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) is up for the first time since 2001, according to a quarterly survey of 800 SMEs operating in the manufacturing, construction and service sectors.
Both the service and construction sectors reported a rise in staffing levels in Q4, although manufacturing continued to make staff cuts.
Recruiting and retaining good staff at affordable salaries continues to be a greater problem for SMEs than cutting staff numbers – and while staffing levels have improved in the North, the Midlands, Wales and the West Country, they have continued to fall in areas such as London and the South East, the East and Scotland.
It appears that SMEs are still facing a tough 2003; the sector’s output growth faltered in Q4 2002.
