Michael McAteer of Grant Thornton. Photo: Conor McCabe

Irish businesses very optimistic for 2022 despite challenges

Optimism about growth in the next 12 months is very high among Irish businesses as we come out of the worst part of the pandemic.

This comes despite growing concerns around skills shortages and rising energy costs, as well as continued economic uncertainty due to Covid-19.

The latest Grant Thornton International Business Report (IBR) found that 85% of Irish businesses surveyed are optimistic about the coming 12 months, the highest of all 29 economies surveyed for the International Business Report and significantly higher than the EU average of 65%. 62 Irish businesses were surveyed in total.

This growing level of optimism is reflected in revenue forecasts with almost two-thirds (63%) of mid-sized Irish businesses expecting revenues to increase in the coming 12 months.

63% of businesses are also expecting to increase the selling price of their goods and services in the same period - an increase compared to the 44% of businesses who reported increasing selling prices in the first six months of 2021.

Concerns

However, a rapid bounce back in the global economy following the easing of global Covid-19 restrictions over the past six months has brought about new challenges for businesses.

Responding to the International Business Report survey in the second half of 2021, 63% of businesses cited the availability of skilled workers as a barrier to growth – up from the 37% who reported this as a barrier to growth in the first half of 2021.

Similarly, more than half (56%) of businesses report the cost of labour as a barrier to growth – more than double the 27% of businesses who reported this as a challenge in the first half of 2021.

Energy prices are also having a real impact on businesses potential for growth over the coming 12 months as 55% of Irish businesses reported this as a challenge to growth during the second half of 2021 – up from the 33% who cited it as a barrier in the first half of the year.

Overall, economic uncertainty was reported as a concern by almost half of Irish business (48%) despite the economic recovery underway.

Speaking on the findings of the Grant Thornton International Business Report, Grant Thornton Ireland Managing Partner Michael McAteer said: “Businesses remain optimistic for the coming year as the recovery from the pandemic prompts an increase in demand but we’re seeing increasing concern and new challenges to growth in spite of this. Skills and talent shortages, rising energy and therefore production costs, and the increasing cost of doing business as markets return to more stable trading patterns, are of great concern.

“From a labour perspective, there is a skills shortage globally in a number of sectors that represents a major challenge for businesses in terms of growth, including here in Ireland, and the lengthy visa-processing times and other red-tape hurdles have only exacerbated this issue. Rising costs of doing business, rocketing energy prices and supply chain challenges also hinder the growth prospects in a variety of sectors and industries.

“But with business optimism climbing to a three-year high, and many businesses insulating through new business processes and digital transformation, there is hope for businesses to continue growing in both domestic and international markets over the coming year.”