According to a study* published this Thursday, in the third quarter, VSE managers showed strong confidence in their own activity and greater pessimism about the general business climate, in a context of distrust towards the executive.
63% of owners of very small businesses (0 to 19 employees) are optimistic about their own activity (+7 points in three months), the highest figure in 16 years, but at the same time 73% are pessimistic about the business climate in general. in France (+8 points), according to this Ifop survey for Fiducial.
At the same time, three quarters (73%) of these employers say they have no confidence in the economic measures announced or implemented by Emmanuel Macron and his government, a distrust that increases 14 points in one quarter.
Hiring is eroding a bit: 12% of VSEs hired in the third quarter (-1 point). Likewise, 8% (+1) have eliminated one or more jobs. Almost three-quarters of VSEs (73%) are not experiencing financial difficulties, 12 points more than in the quarter.
VSE entrepreneurs are increasingly less concerned about the ecological issue
As citizens, 72% of small business owners consider taking green issues into account an “important” or “urgent” issue, but 28% consider it a minor issue, or even not even a real issue. Eight years ago, 94% saw it as an urgent or important issue, 6% as a minor issue.
As business leaders, the green transition tops the important issues they identify, cited by 64% of them. 54% believe that taking it into account generates additional costs and additional administrative restrictions. However, 80% have already taken steps to reduce their company’s environmental impact, or will do so. For example, 64% have adopted solutions to control energy consumption, 20 points more than in 2015.
VSE bosses are divided on the digital transition: 31% see it as opportunities, 18% as threats and 48% as many threats as opportunities. Finally, more than three-quarters (76%) of them have never used a generative AI tool like ChatGPT. Currently, opinions are balanced: 31% see AI as an opportunity for the company, 34% as a threat, and 35% as neither.
*The study was carried out from September 4 to 22 on an intentional sample of 1,009 VSE managers, interviewed by telephone.
Source: BFM TV
