CEPYME highlights that 96% of SMEs will see their business affected by the Coronavirus

SME Barometer Presentation 2020 CEPYME

According to the SME Barometer, despite the Covid-19 crisis, more than 60% are committed to maintaining employment, compared to 37% who will reduce it. 15% believe that it will lead to the cessation of their activity.

CEPYME has launched the SMEs Barometer in order to know directly the concerns, concerns and expectations of the Spanish SMEs, especially in this complex moment of uncertainty caused by the Coronavirus crisis in Spain.

In order to better analyze the perspectives of small and medium-sized companies in the face of the impact of the Covid-19, CEPYME This survey began on March 19, keeping it active until the 25th of this month, which shows the timeliness of the businessmen's responses.

However, despite the short period of active time, the sample collected reaches 2.722 participants, a result that has been possible thanks to the coordination effort made by business organizations. Furthermore, participation represents a faithful reflection of the composition of the Spanish productive fabric of our country, since 95,5% of SMEs and 4,5% from large companies, highlighting the participation of microenterprises, with less than 10 workers, with 50,22%. It should be noted that the volume of the Spanish SME represents 99,8% of the business fabric.

The main results of the SMEs Barometer They highlight the concern of small and medium-sized businesses in the difficult situation of the current public health crisis. In fact, 96% of those surveyed consider that the crisis will negatively or very negatively affect their business and expect a worsening of the economy this year in almost 9 out of 10 responses collected. However, despite the uncertainty, more than 60% of the SMEs consulted have expressed their intention to maintain employment or even increase it, although 37% do expect some type of adjustment during the first half of the year.

Regarding measures to address this situation, almost 70% plan to request financing. Regarding company adaptation measures, teleworking, reduction of activity or ERTEs, but it also shows that almost 13% have opted to give vacations to their employees, which shows that uncertainty still remains in part of the companies waiting for news during this temporary crisis. And, on the most negative side, 15% advocate the cessation of their business activity. Likewise, as measures demanded of the Government in this situation, tax aid and deductions from Social Security contributions are presented as the most requested.