According to the Chamber of Commerce and Industry, six out of ten companies are optimistic about their development | Economy

Six out of ten Spanish companies are optimistic about their business development at the end of this year and next, while 41.8% of companies express a negative assessment of their behavior, indicating a split in business expectations. This conclusion follows from a business climate study carried out by the Spanish Chamber of Commerce in collaboration with Sigmados. However, 43.8% of respondents consider the socio-political situation in Spain to be a significant risk factor that could affect growth expectations. In terms of the current situation, 39.4% of companies cite rising labor costs as the biggest risk they face, followed by labor shortages at four-tenths lower.

According to the study, company optimism tends to increase with company size, with sectors such as other services, construction, tourism, hospitality and restaurants ranked as the most favorable. Likewise, eight in 10 companies say they are meeting or exceeding their expectations for how their operations will grow in 2024. In particular, 47.7% indicate that their current situation is as expected, and 28.1% have exceeded expectations. However, 24.2% believe their situation is worse than expected, reflecting a slight difference in their assessments of the year. Looking ahead, 60% of companies forecast significant growth in their exports and national sales, as well as increased job creation by 2025. This optimism is based on the recovery of domestic demand and the opening of new international markets.

Respondents express concerns about the impact of rising labor costs on their future productivity and tax pressures. They are also concerned about the dynamics of energy and raw material prices as a factor that could have a negative impact on the development of the Spanish economy (26%). the same percentage cite continued inflation as a serious threat. The influence of international geopolitical tensions is also emphasized, as indicated by 23.1% of respondents. According to the President of the Spanish Chamber, José Luis Bonet, “The Business Climate Survey reflects a noticeable optimism among Spanish companies; “More than 57% forecast a strong 2025, allowing us to forecast strong economic growth next year.”

Tax pressure and reduction of working hours

Regarding financial pressure, the president of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry condemned the “excessive gluttony of fees at all levels”, which “has a comprehensive impact on the mood of the people,” he said. It is unacceptable for Bonet to raise the issue of financial pressure, saying that the pressure in Spain is less than in more developed countries such as France or Germany. “It’s not about financial pressure, it’s about fiscal effort. We do not have the same GDP per capita as the French and Germans. “Are they going to make us pay the same as them with fewer options?” – he reproached.

Moreover, when asked about reducing the working day to 37.5 hours, Bonet believes that “it is absurd to issue decrees on this matter” and believes that this issue should be discussed in industries through agreements. “This is an issue that is being discussed in agreements and in the companies themselves, because many of the companies that cannot do this are SMEs and therefore their survival is at stake,” warned the President of the Chamber, insisting on “enforcing” these things not good. “Let them talk and understand each other,” he added.

60% are aware of Next Generation Recovery Funds.

The survey shows that knowledge about recovery funds continues to increase. 60.6% of companies are aware of the funds, an increase of 4 percentage points in one year, with companies with 50 to 99 employees and those in the industrial, agri-food and other services sectors being best informed.

Likewise, 55.2% of companies know how to access these funds, representing an increase of more than 13 percentage points compared to the previous year, and 25.6% have already sought this assistance. Among those who requested them, 57.1% say the experience was satisfactory.

While 49% of companies are skeptical about the ability of these funds to transform and modernize the structure of Spanish businesses, 18.4% are very or quite confident in their transformative potential. Moreover, 34.4% do not believe in their capabilities, and 14.5% are not confident that these means will achieve their goal.