Business Representatives in Clare are calling for immediate measures to address the skills gap crisis facing small firms in the county.
It comes as a new survey from Chambers Ireland has found that 95% of companies are struggling to recruit qualified staff.
The problem was found to be most acute in the case of small or micro businesses, where more than half said they struggled to fill customer service positions.
This deficit is likely to have a profound effect on Clare’s economic endeavours as currently over 93% of all firms here have a workforce of between eight and ten people and as such are categorised as small enterprises.
However this county’s ISME representative believes there is a simple solution to Ireland’s recruitment problems.
Last year 61,000 people immigrated to this country , while the average time to process an employment Visa is presently 8 weeks.
Owner of St.Tola’s Goat Cheese in Ennistymon Siobháin Garvey believes it is a crying shame that bureaucratic delays are preventing local firms from filling vacancies.
The President of the Ennis Chamber of Commerce meanwhile believes the push factors currently outweigh the pull factors for Ireland’s youth.
Its claimed the cost of living crisis , the lack of housing and better progression opportunities abroad are motivating young people to flee the nest.
The Chambers Ireland Survey found that at home two thirds of businesses are now struggling to fill management positions.
President Elect of the Ennis Chamber, Sheila Lynch says the trend is very worrying.
You can listen to the full interview below.
