Lack of digital skills could derail economic recovery – report
The report, from the Digital Marketing Institute, also said that a geographical divide is growing with Dublin-based firms faring better than their country cousins.
And while online spending by Irish consumers is up 54pc year-on-year, over 60pc of this or €3.9bn, is being lost to overseas companies.
According to Ian Dodson, director and co-founder at the Digital Marketing Institute, there is an enormous opportunity for digital skills to drive the …
Irish and European stocks continue to 'tread water'
The benchmark ISEQ Overall Index closed up just 4.84 points, or 0.1pc, at 4,827.36 as gains in bookmaker Paddy Power and insurer FBD offset declines in C&C and Ryanair.
The Stoxx Europe 600 Index slipped less than 0.1pc to 342.75 at the close of trading in London, after climbing as much as 0.4pc and falling as much as 0.2pc. The benchmark gauge has rebounded 5.5pc from a four-month low on …
Euro zone business grows in August at weakest pace this year – PMI
Signs of slower growth, coupled with firms cutting prices at an even faster rate, will add to pressure on the European Central Bank ahead of its monetary policy meeting on Thursday.
Markit’s Composite Purchasing Managers’ Index, which is based on surveys of thousands of companies across the region and is seen as a good gauge of growth, fell to an eight-month low of 52.5, well below July’s 53.8.
That final …
€1bn tax surge that lifts hopes of Budget 'giveback'
The startling turnaround in fortunes is down to rising employment, a bounce in spending and improved company profits.
These all helped push the tax take 20pc ahead of target last month.
Mr Noonan collected €440m more than anticipated last month alone – meaning the overall tax take for the year is already €1bn ahead of target.
He was quick to promise Budget cuts “significantly less” than the €2.1bn forecast at …
One third of SMEs expect to hire over coming months
Business and labour costs are among the key issues for bosses who will be forced to let staff go, the Small Firms Association (SFA) said.
SFA director Patricia Callan warned Irish labour costs are still the 11th highest in Europe and 16pc above the EU average.
“In terms of hourly labour costs Ireland is 30.8pc ahead of our nearest competitor, the UK, putting us at a distinct competitive disadvantage,” she …