Fading optimism among business service providers

Optimism among business service providers slowly faded over the past months, but spirits are still high. Most business service providers were optimistic about the future in July.

In July, business service providers were pleased with the number of orders they had received in June 2008. On balance, 13 percent evaluated the number of orders received as ‘good’, given the time of year. This percentage is the same as in June. In  July, Dutch business service providers became less optimistic about the economy; on balance, 13 percent of them labelled the economic climate as ‘good’, as against 21 percent in June.

The number of business service providers expecting to receive more orders and to generate a higher turnover in the next three months exceeded those anticipating a decline. For the fifth year in a row, entrepreneurs expecting an increase outnumbered those expecting a decrease, but the gap is closing.

Providers of business services expect employment in their branch to expand. In July, on balance, 15 percent expected to hire more staff in the next three months, equalling the percentage in June. One third of business service providers reported that staff shortages are hampering production growth. In July, more than half of them saw no obstacles for their activities.

Opinion on orders received in business services