Zurich SMEs are optimistic

SMEs in the canton of Zurich were slightly less satisfied with the general business situation in the first half of 2024 than in the previous year, Zürcher Kantonalbank (ZKB) reported in a press release on the latest KMU ZH Monitor. However, the majority of the 746 companies surveyed for the Monitor expect a slight improvement over the next twelve months. The KMU ZH Monitor has been conducted annually since 2021 by the Zurich University of Applied Sciences (ZHAW) on behalf of ZKB.

As in the previous year, companies see the shortage of skilled workers as the biggest challenge. Medium-sized companies are more affected by this than small and micro companies, according to the press release. However, the situation has improved compared to the previous year. Other frequently cited challenges include regulations and requirements from the authorities as well as digital transformation and process optimization. The availability of raw materials and preliminary products has improved significantly compared to the previous year.

"The problems in the supply chains of SMEs appear to have evaporated," writes ZKB. However, companies are unable to fully offset increased costs with price increases, meaning that improvements in net profit are lower than the growth in turnover. Capacity utilization of production facilities also remains below the previous year's figures across all sectors. ce/hs