Survey: Biz leaders pessimistic on economy
More than three-quarters of Maine's business leaders have an unfavorable view of the state's economy, according to a new survey by Portland-based Critical Insights released yesterday to Mainebiz.
The Minding Maine's Business survey of 432 business decision-makers found that a pessimistic outlook on the state's economy is growing, with more than seven in 10 leaders who responded saying the state's economy is headed in the wrong direction, an increase from one-half of business leaders with a pessimistic outlook in 2006's survey. Half of all leaders said the value of state services received in exchange for taxes is poor to terrible, and seven in 10 expressed little to no confidence in state and local government's ability to grow businesses. Only half the respondents said that if they were to expand or relocate their business, they would do so in Maine.
The results weren't all negative. Two thirds of business leaders say they don't plan to downsize or lay off any staff. Respondents said that the technology/science/R&D, hospitality and tourism, and health care industries will drive growth in the state's economy for the next decade.
Minding Maine's Business is a survey of Maine's business decision makers conducted by Critical Insights, an independent market research firm, and the consulting arm of Portland law firm Pierce Atwood. It was first conducted in 2003 and repeated in 2005, 2006 and 2009. Mainebiz is a co-sponsor for the 2009 survey along with Norway Savings Bank
Read the entire report here >>
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