Life in Ireland

Figures from the Central Statistics Office in Ireland show that there was another big jump in the number of people on the Live Register last month. The number of job seekers signing on for dole payments rose by almost 1,000 per day during the month of June, by far the highest amount ever recorded. It brought the total on the dole to 220,811 - the highest for a decade, worrying us all.

It we multiply this up over the months left to Christmas, well its not good. Better leave it at that. However something rather interesting is stirring in the land. The number of small and micro businesses start ups is going up. So maybe when things are good and we all have jobs the motivation to start our own businesses is not strong. When that climate alters it stimulates us to start looking at our options. It is interesting to note that adversity or the threat of adversity stimulates entrepreneurial spirit much more than plentiful jobs.

So can it be a good time to start a micro business when there is so much uncertainty. Maybe - the micro business is the only business that we soul be considering in these uncertain times. Maybe - gone are the days of the big big loans, big gig risk, long payback times and reliance on a buoyant economy. Maybe - we are growing into the time when small is beautiful when it comes to our new business set ups. Maybe - sustainability in our business structure today has as much meaning as the need for constant growth in the previous decade.