Small firms cut hiring plans
Most small firms will cut back on new jobs this year compared with last year, according to research out today from Huddlebuy. The survey found 59 per cent of small businesses expect to hire fewer staff in 2012 than 2011 and 36 per cent will not be creating any jobs at all. “The small business engine simply cannot fire on all cylinders when it is getting hammered by high taxes, greedy suppliers, oppressive employment regulation and poor trading conditions,” said Huddlebuy boss Saurav Chopra. “This is the clearest indication yet that small business are struggling to create the jobs that we need to get the economy moving this year.”