Majority of AmCham members Planning to Grow or Maintain investment, Cost Competitiveness and Housing Remain Top Concerns 

AmCham has published its latest FDI Insights survey, which found that 96 percent of respondents plan to increase or maintain employee numbers in the next 12 months.

The survey on the views of US multinationals in Ireland found that 48 percent of respondents expect the number of employees in the Irish operations of their organisation to increase over the next 12 months, and a further 48 percent expects to maintain current employee numbers.  

Nine in 10 members said their corporate headquarters continues to have a positive view of Ireland as an investment or growth location. Furthermore, some 35 percent of respondents said Ireland’s stable, pro-enterprise eco-system is the main reason for their organisation’s confidence in the Irish economy. 

AmCham’s survey shows that cost competitiveness is now ranked as the number one issue by 32 percent of members, marking a significant increase on the 19 percent and 10 percent of members who reported this as a challenge in the same survey in July and March, respectively. Housing also continues to be a top concern for multinational employers, with 30 percent of members saying it is the biggest challenge to growth and expansion here.  

When asked what barriers their organisation is experiencing in filling vacancies in Ireland, 46 percent said it is a shortage of specialist skills, 20 percent said housing, and 18 percent said a shortage in the general availability of talent. 

When asked what the top priority for Government should be in order to enhance Ireland’s transport infrastructure, 37 percent said it should be the enhancement of Ireland's road infrastructure, 30 percent said the enhancement of public transport in Ireland’s regional cities and towns, while 24 percent said it should be ensuring we have capacity at all of Ireland’s airports and ports. Some 9 percent said it should be the enhancement of nationally connected public transport. 

You can view the survey results here