Building blitz needed to meet demand for housing
A new study of the housing market says we require 90,000 new homes over the next seven years – but 86pc of them should be within the Dublin commuter belt. The skewed nature of the market means that while a chronic shortage exists in some areas, there will be little work for builders in more rural parts of the country.
The Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI) report says we …
The survey signals that hiring is now at its strongest level since mid-2007
A new report released by the Central Bank today shows that lenders are now more inclined to offer repayment solutions to family struggling to meet their mortgage costs.
But just of half of those who are three months or more in arrears kept to the revised payment deal offered by their bank, the report says.
And one in 10 troubled mortgage holders made no repayments after their mortgage was restructured, …
Businesses now hiring staff at fastest rate in seven years
The survey signals that hiring is now at its strongest level since mid-2007.
Despite increased activity and hiring, company confidence was marginally softer, KBC bank and Chartered Accountants Ireland said in a report published yesterday.
“The marginal decline in the business sentiment index may be disappointing but it isn’t at all surprising given the dramatic improvement reported in the second half of last year,” said KBC economist Austin Hughes.
“The …
Euro zone business growth accelerates but prices slide
But resilient growth in the bloc’s major economies bar France could not mask the deflationary pressure weighing on the region just two days ahead of a European Central Bank monetary policy meeting.
Markit’s Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) for the euro zone’s service industry leapt to 54.2 from June’s 52.8, although that was down from a flash reading of 54.4.
That helped drive up the Composite PMI, which is based on …
SMEs must use strengths to attract talent
Recent forecasts from IBEC, the ESRI and the Institute of Directors in Ireland have all pointed towards growth and an increase in recruitment in 2014.
Our own experience very much reflects this. Hiring is ramping up and we’re seeing an increase in the ‘War for Talent’. In fact, even in the height of the recession a skills gap in many sectors, especially technology, prevailed.