European Firms Expect Higher Sales in 2027 but Stay Cautious on Hiring and Investment

Dublin, Ireland. European businesses expect to sell more at home and abroad in 2027, but their outlook on hiring and investment remains subdued, according to the Eurochambres Economic Survey 2027. Eurochambres CEO Ben Butters presented the findings on Tuesday during the SME and Clusters Assembly 2026.

Survey scope

The results were released during the ‘Competitive Enterprise’ panel. They draw on responses from over 40,000 entrepreneurs in 27 European countries, and describe companies that keep trading even as doubts about the economic climate grow.

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Sales expectations improve

For the first time in recent editions of the survey, expectations for both domestic and export sales are positive. Both measures are above their averages over the past ten years.

The development is encouraging for European firms after several years marked by economic disruption, higher operating costs and uncertainty over international trade. Domestic sales are projected to gain from stronger demand, while better export expectations point to fresh opportunities beyond national markets.

Employment and investment lag behind

Optimism does not extend to the labour market. Employment expectations are negative for the fourth year in a row, a result linked to ongoing labour cost pressures and difficulty finding workers with suitable skills.

The investment picture is also mixed. Expectations are better than in the previous two years but still sit below the historical average, which indicates that companies continue to restrain spending even though trading conditions may improve.