TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (July 24, 2017) – Workforce quality and government regulations are the top issues keeping Florida’s small business leaders up at night, according to the latest Florida Chamber of Commerce Small Business Index survey.
“In the span of two years, workforce quality has climbed from the fifth issue of greatest concern to the top issues of concern,” said DR. JERRY PARRISH, Chief Economist and Director of Research, Florida Chamber Foundation. “The Florida Chamber Foundation’s recent Florida Jobs 2030 report shows that the future of work is changing, and as this quarter’s Small Business Index shows, businesses – now more than ever – need access to a talented workforce.”
The Florida Chamber’s quarterly Small Business Index Statewide Survey Shows Small Businesses are Most Concerned About:
- Workforce quality (23 percent),
- Government regulations (16 percent),
- Economic uncertainty (13 percent),
- Healthcare costs (10 percent),
- Lawsuit abuse (8 percent),
- Access to capital (7 percent).
On the bright side, 70 percent of respondents expect their sales will increase over the next year.
“Florida’s small businesses continue to face a number of challenges, including increased concerns about workforce quality and government regulations,” said TAMI FITZPATRICK, Chair of the Florida Chamber’s Small Business Council, and Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Entropy Technology Design, Inc. “The Florida Chamber’s Small Business Council looks forward to working together to identify and support solutions that will help and grow Florida’s small business community.”
About the Survey:
The Florida Chamber’s Small Business Index Survey was conducted electronically June 29 through July 14, 2017. Twenty-nine percent of respondents employ less than five employees, while 42 percent employ five to 49 employees. Click here to view the full report.
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Established in 1916 as Florida’s first statewide business advocacy organization, the Florida Chamber of Commerce is the voice of business and the state’s largest federation of employers, chambers of commerce and associations aggressively representing small and large businesses from every industry and every region. The Florida Chamber works within all branches of government to affect those changes set forth in the annual Florida Business Agenda, and which are seen as critical to secure Florida’s future. The Florida Chamber works closely with its Florida Political Operations and the Florida Chamber Foundation. Visit www.FloridaChamber.com for more information.