A large proportion of British businesses will be forced to make redundancies unless the economy picks up soon, according a new survey.
A poll conducted by the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) has indicated that many employers have been holding on to more staff than they need during the recession because they feared losing skills.
However, two thirds of these employers now claim they face a 'make or break' period where they will either have to boost revenue or let staff members go.
It would appear that the majority of these business owners could benefit from some professional advice when it comes to navigating through uncertainty.
In an interview with bbc.co.uk, the report's author Gerwyn Davies concluded: "Recent falls in unemployment suggest that the labour market is on a sound footing, but a closer examination reveals that many employers are holding on to more staff than is required by the current level of demand in order to retain their skills.
"This is a make or break moment for employers - unless growth picks up many will find that they cannot hold on to some workers any longer."
Telegraph.co.uk report that the survey was published to coincide with the release of the latest UK unemployment figures. Unemployment in the UK has been steadily dropping for some time and these figures are expected to show a further decline.