Sustained optimism among business service providers

Business service providers remain very optimistic. The number of entrepreneurs expecting to receive more orders and to generate a higher turnover in the second quarter of 2007 amply exceeds those anticipating a decline. Currently, the mood among business service providers is just as positive as in the fourth quarter of 2006, after a slight drop in the first quarter.

Business service providers are also optimistic about future employment; 38 percent expect to hire more staff in the second quarter of 2007, while only 7 percent expect to have to reduce staff in this period. A shortage of manpower is seen as an impediment to production growth by 3 out of 10 entrepreneurs. However, 6 out of 10 do not experience any obstacles regarding their production. 

Dutch business service providers are very positive about orders received in the first quarter of 2007. Since the fourth quarter of 2005, more entrepreneurs evaluate the number of orders received as ‘good’, given the time of the year. Providers of business services are also positive about the economic climate in general. This indicator improved significantly and reached the highest value since its introduction at the beginning of 2003. 

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 services, engineering firms, accounting and administrative offices).

Opinion on orders received in business services