Companies in Ireland have become significantly more optimistic about their outlook for the future, a new study claims.

According to the Business Tracker report, confidence within the nation rose by 24 points in the past six months to 101, placing it ahead the US (90) and the UK (89).

The fifth survey of its kind, it has been produced by Regus and reveals that Irish businesses are planning to expand their workforces.

"As an indicator of the changing structure of Ireland's employment market, 49 per cent of firms intend to hire more freelance staff in 2011-12 and 38 per cent will employ more remote workers," the report states, pointing to the growing focus on flexibility among firms.

The Regus research found that 20 per cent of small businesses expect to appoint permanent members of staff during the next three months.

Recent figures from Ireland's Central Statistics Office showed that unemployment declined in the country from 14.4 per cent in August to 14.3 per cent in September 2011.

Posted by Alex Donnell