The Business Owners Sentiment Survey in Ireland

Irish business owners are planning for 2026 and beyond with a realistic outlook shaped by domestic and international challenges. While concerns persist around pricing pressures, and talent costs and retention, executives steering enterprises with turnover exceeding €5 million exhibit an ambitious and growth-oriented mindset.

Over nine in ten of the survey cohort are actively pursuing international growth across all major global markets, with one in three targeting expansion within the next twelve months and a further 35-45% planning moves within one to five years. 

On the home front, over 90% of businesses are seeking to hire additional staff, with 44% planning recruitment within the coming year. Notably, over eight in ten (83%) respondents are considering business acquisitions, demonstrating continued confidence in organic and inorganic growth strategies. 

Labour shortages and rising costs dominate the concerns of business owners, with skills gaps presenting operational challenges across all sectors. Smaller enterprises are most concerned about competitive pressures, while concern about competition from AI-enabled new market entrants is particularly evident amongst Ireland’s largest companies. 

A striking generational divide is evident among business owners when it comes to their perception of government support and policies. Among those aged 25- 44, nearly half (43%)¹ believe the government is anti-business, while only 18% of their older counterparts aged 45 and over share this view.

Across the younger business owners (25-44), 43% agree or somewhat agree that government policies are deterring them from expanding their ventures, almost double the sentiment recorded amongst their older peers aged 45 and over (21%).

As US tariffs disrupt supply chains and dampen investment confidence, over seven in ten (72%)¹ business owners are diversifying into new export markets to reduce dependence on the US. Over two-thirds (69%)¹ report that US trade policy uncertainty has prompted to delay or reconsider major investment decisions in Ireland.

Younger business leaders demonstrate markedly higher levels of concern and reactive behaviours compared to their older counterparts. The 25-44 cohort appears more willing to consider structural changes, and more pessimistic about navigating current trade headwinds. Those 45 and over demonstrate greater resilience, scepticism about the need for dramatic changes, and confidence in maintaining current operations.

The housing crisis is creating a two-tier business environment in Ireland. Younger business owners face acute, immediate pressures affecting recruitment, compensation, expansion and location decisions.

Over seven in ten (72%) of younger business owners strongly or somewhat agree that the housing shortage has influenced their location decision on where to locate new offices or facilities in Ireland, the housing shortage has evolved from a social challenge into a primary economic constraint.

On the visa and work permit systems, there is strong consensus for reform. Just over four in five (81%)¹ business owners support merging visa and work permit applications into a single system to reduce administrative burden for their business, with a similar proportion (83%)¹ backing AI-powered monitoring to help inform better employment permit policies.

Half of businesses find funding easy to access, but a scaling squeeze affects mid-sized enterprises seeking growth capital. Eight in ten business owners have at least started thinking about succession planning, though only 40% have detailed plans in place. 

Business owners have a clear-eyed view of the challenges ahead, with price pressures, talent management, supply chain resilience, and cybersecurity all featuring prominently in forward planning. What emerges is a picture of business owners who combine pragmatic awareness of challenges with determined optimism about opportunities.

For policymakers, the message is clear: Targeted policy interventions, particularly around housing, visa processing and infrastructure, would enhance Ireland’s competitive position and unlock the full potential of its entrepreneurial community.

[1] ‘Strongly agree’ and ‘Somewhat agree’ responses combined