A survey of 350 small to medium-sized Australian businesses has identified a lack of skilled workers as a far more pressing challenge than the recent run of interest rate rises and global market turmoil.
The survey, by the national accounting group MGI, has found growth in smaller businesses is being hampered by their inability to attract people with appropriate skills and experience in a large range of roles.
Only a minority of the businesses surveyed said they expected to face difficulties in servicing their loans because of the four interest rate increases since last August.