Business services providers expect turnover to increase

For the first time since November 2008, the number of entrepreneurs expecting their turnover to increase over the next three months outnumbered those expecting a decline. In September, on balance, 20 percent of business service providers expected their future output to increase.

Dutch entrepreneurs think turnover has declined over the past three months. On balance, 35 percent of them reported a decline. In ICT, no less than 60 percent reported turnover losses.

Business service providers were clearly less negative about future employment in their branch in September than in the preceding months. On balance, 13 percent of them expected to have to cut back on staff in the three months to come, as against 25 percent in August; 42 percent of business service providers actually reported staff reductions over the past three months.

Providers of business services indicated that the economic climate has deteriorated further over the past three months, but compared to August fewer reported a downturn in their branch.

Expected turnover business services