Two-thirds of firms plan to cut jobs: NRC

Over two-thirds of Dutch companies expect to cut more jobs this year, despite growing optimism about the economic recovery, the NRC reports on Wednesday.

The paper bases its claims on research carried out together with organisational advisory bureau Boer & Croon.
Half of the companies polled said they were optimistic that turnover would increase, compared with less than 25% a year ago. But the growth will mainly take place abroad with only 25% expecting sales at home to increase in 2010.
Financial service firms and companies active in trade and manufacturing are most likely to envisage job cuts, the research showed. And four out of five firms would like the government to make it easier to sack people.