Business service providers  remain optimistic

A large majority of business service providers expect to receive more orders and to generate a higher turnover in the first quarter of 2007. Yet, the percentage of business service providers who expect an increase in orders and turnover is lower than in the previous quarter. In the fourth quarter of 2006, this percentage was exceptionally high.

Dutch business service providers are very positive about orders received in the fourth quarter of 2006. For the fourth quarter running, a large majority of them evaluate the number of orders received as ‘good’, given the time of the year.

Business service providers are also optimistic about future employment; 39 percent of them expect to hire more staff in the first quarter of 2007, as against 37 percent in the fourth quarter of 2006. Only 6 percent expect to have to reduce staff in the first quarter, as against 5 percent in the preceding quarter.

Providers of business services are also positive about the economic climate in general. This indicator improved marginally and reached the highest value since its introduction in the first quarter of 2003.

Each quarter, the economic survey conducted among providers of business services evaluates the mood in three branches: lease companies, computer service providers and other business services (including temp agencies, advertising agencies, cleaning agencies, engineering offices, accounting firms and administrative offices).

Opinion on orders received in business services