Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are a good place for
job security in 2009, with more than half expecting their staffing
levels to stay the same.
Despite many SMEs planning to cut IT budgets by 4%, staffing
levels will be largely safe, although cuts will occur in less than
a third of businesses.
Forrester Research questioned 3,497 executives in SMEs across
North America and Europe between February and May this year. Of
those questioned, 57% said they expected staffing levels to remain
stable throughout the year.
In comparison, just 29% said they expected to reduce headcount.
IT appears to be an important function for most small businesses,
with almost half considering it a critical or high priority and 15%
calling it critical.
The report said: "Overall, the global recession has made CIOs
and IT decision-makers cut back their IT budgets, with North
American and European SMEs expected to decrease 2009 IT operating
budgets by 4% and IT capital budgets by 2% to 3%. IT staff
headcount and compensation are likely to stay the same, although
cuts will occur in less than one-third of SMEs. Improving IT
efficiency and streamlining business processes are top
priorities."