Swedish organization „Företagarna” which represents small businesses and unions published its 2019 “Barometer of Small Enterprises”. The study shows what are the views of Swedish businesses on current economical situation and what do they expect will happen in the coming 12 months.

In this year’s „Barometer of Small Enterprises” ca. 68% firms indicated that they see good opportunities of development. It’s a decrease of 2 percentage points  comparing to the last year’s 70%. According to the study setting up a firm is relatively easy, however further development and achieving a success is definitely much harder.

There are many obstacles on the road to a successful business which prevent enterprises form creating more workplaces and welfare. Starting with more general ones like highly competitive market and ending with more specific problems like labour costs or struggles with finding skilled and competent workforce.

The most troublesome obstacle, according to the study, is finding the right employee, what is more, this particular problem is on the rise. In 2019, 29% of interviewees chose it to be the crucial element of current situation. Comparing to the last year’s study and the year before that it’s a rise of  3 pp and a rise of 8 pp respectively.

In the light of these findings, enterprises’ development is hampered not by low demand but by the difficulties with acquiring new, competent and skilled workers. Lack of the workforce is most present in the construction industry and in all sorts of manufacturing companies. This problem slowly starts to concern also larger companies.

The main reason for the lack of employees is the difficulty in finding those who are looking for the job and at the same time have the proper skills and experience that matches company’s demands. Other factors concern for instance company’s inability to attract new workers or wrong attitude of those seeking the job.

The second most stated reason of hampering company’s development is highly competitive market which accounts for 12% of the total number. The labour costs have the similar impact, however these factors have decreased in importance in the course of the last few years

About the Barometer

The study was conducted on a group of 4000 small, Swedish enterprises employing 49 workers at the most. The study has been conducted since 1985.

Source: www.foretagarna.se