Small Businesses Show “Cautious Optimism”

Small Businesses Show “Cautious Optimism”

Auckland - 10 August 2009 - Madison Recruitment, the largest New Zealand owned recruitment agency, has published the results of their Auckland Business Survey 2009.

The survey was conducted during July 2009 and covered Auckland-based SME businesses across all sectors from Albany to Penrose with a staff count between 10 and 100. Other regions will follow to see if there are any geographical anomalies.

Senior Executives, with staff recruitment responsibility, were questioned to understand the effect that the current economic climate, including the Swine Flu pandemic, has had on Auckland businesses.

Madison has 5 offices nationwide, of which two are based in Auckland. They are committed to running this survey on an annual basis and to distribute it as a free intelligence tool to companies nationwide.

Marisa Fong and Wynnis Armour, joint Directors of Madison Recruitment, see this survey as being particularly relevant to the New Zealand economy given the make-up of New Zealand businesses.

The main findings are as follows:

* 96% of SME respondents do not face a challenge in retaining staff in the current economic climate

* 75% of respondents did not acknowledge any financial challenges (such as cash-flow, funding and bad debt)

* 51% of respondents reduced their workforce in the last 12 months

* 28% will be increasing their workforce in the coming year

* 62% of respondents will be using contract and/or temporary staff in the coming year

* 98% of respondents say that the Swine Flu pandemic has not affected their business confidence or hiring intentions at this stage. Madison believes that this percentage will reduce significantly over the remainder of the year.

A full copy of the survey report can be downloaded at;
http://www.madison.co.nz/email/AucklandBusinessSurveyJuly2009.pdf.

ENDS

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