The majority of managers of companies with up to 250 employees have gained optimism and are now considering a quicker exit from the crisis, except in tourism, according to a survey published on Friday by Bpifrance.
Around three quarters of the companies questioned believe that they will have recovered
their pre-crisis level of activity
"
by 2022
" and 37% affirm that this is already the case, according to this survey carried out among 6,104 companies between mid-year. -May and mid-June.
Read also: SMEs seduced by employee savings despite the crisis
"
The recovery is rather driven by industry, trade is also doing well, while tourism remains the lagging sector
", analyzes Philippe Mutricy, director of studies and foresight at Bpifrance. Business leaders surveyed expect an average growth of 2.8% in their turnover this year, but those in the tourism sector expect a decline of 11%.
In the end, "
a quarter of companies are considering a later return to normal or say they remain uncertain,
" notes Philippe Mutricy, especially in sectors likely to experience new health restrictions in the future.
Overall, the results of the survey show an improvement in the outlook compared to the previous edition carried out at the end of 2020, at the time of the second containment, even if this new survey was carried out before the breakthrough of the Delta variant.
Companies more inclined to hire
Thus, 16% of business leaders have for example revised their hiring plans upwards, in particular in trade and construction, while 7% say they have canceled their recruitment plans, against 15% in the previous year. investigation. This optimism tends to increase recruitment difficulties, since 75% of business leaders say they encounter problems in hiring. This is 10 points more than at the end of 2020, but "
this corresponds to the level before the crisis
", which was 81%, nuance Philippe Mutricy.
The challenge for the next few months now remains the end of support mechanisms, in particular for companies that have not regained their level of activity before the health crisis.
"
The loan guaranteed by the State (PGE) will probably serve as a cash buffer
" after the cessation of aid, planned at this stage at the end of August by the government, believes Philippe Mutricy.
Read also: Éric Bismuth: "SMEs and mid-caps are our reservoir of jobs and growth"
Among business leaders who have benefited from the EMP, 57% say they have used less than half of it.
But according to the survey, only 4% of these business leaders fear they will not be able to repay their loan.
A figure that rises to 7% in VSEs and SMEs in tourism.
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