2024 Economic Outlook Survey for Businesses
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1.
Thinking about the
state of Massachusetts
overall over the next 12 months, how do you think the economy will be in comparison to today?
(Required.)
Much better shape
Somewhat better shape
About the same
Somewhat worse shape
Much worse shape
Not sure
*
2.
Thinking only about
your region
over the next 12 months, how do you think the economy will be in comparison to today?
(Required.)
Much better shape
Somewhat better shape
About the same
Somewhat worse shape
Much worse shape
Not sure
*
3.
Thinking about the coming year, what do you see as the
single greatest threat
to economic growth for the region?
(Required.)
Availability of skilled labor
Corporate taxes
Cost of fuel and energy
Cost of government
Cost of health care
Effects of COVID-19
Government effectiveness
Increasing interest rates/cost of borrowing
Inflation
International competition
Job creation/employment outlook
Overall cost of living
Personal taxes
Quality of public education
Real estate prices/market
Supply chain issues
Transportation/infrastructure
Political climate
Not sure
Other (please specify):
*
4.
Thinking about the coming year, what do you see as the
single greatest opportunity
for economic growth for the region?
(Required.)
Affordable housing
Advanced manufacturing
Availability of skilled labor
Changes brought about by President Biden and his administration
Cost of living
Low interest rates
Quality of public education
Real estate prices/market
Transportation/Infrastructure
Not sure
Other (please specify):
*
5.
Thinking about your business over the next 12 months, how do you think it will be in comparison to today?
(Required.)
Much better shape
Somewhat better shape
About the same
Somewhat worse shape
Much worse shape
Not sure
*
6.
Thinking about your business, what is the most challenging issue you expect to face in the next two years?
(Required.)
Availability of skilled labor
Corporate taxes
Cost of fuel and energy
Cost of government
Cost of health care
Effects of COVID-19
Flexible/hybrid workforce
Government effectiveness
Immigration
International competition
Inflation
Job creation/employment outlook
New government regulation
Obtaining credit
Overall cost of living
Personal taxes
Pressure from larger competitors
Real estate prices/market
Supply chain issues
Technology/cyber security
Transportation/infrastructure
Not sure
Other (please specify)
*
7.
Which of the following best describes your hiring plan for your business in 2024?
(Required.)
Significant increase
Slight increase
No change
Slight decrease
Significant decrease
Not sure
*
8.
Which of the following best describes your capital investments plan for your business in 2024?
(Required.)
Significant increase
Slight increase
No change
Slight decrease
Significant decrease
Not sure
*
9.
Where do you anticipate spending in 2024? (Check all that apply.)
(Required.)
Expansion
Training
New hires
Equipment
Other (please specify):
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10.
Compared to 2023, how will your business’s investment in workforce/employee development change?
(Required.)
Significant increase
Slight increase
No change
Slight decrease
Significant decrease
Not sure
*
11.
Thinking about your business over the next 12 months compared to 2023, how do you think your spending will change?
(Required.)
We plan to spend more
We plan to spend about the same
We plan to cut expenses
Not sure
*
12.
Technology continues to change the way business is conducted. Do you think technology will impact the way you do business even more in 2024?
(Required.)
Yes, significantly
Yes, somewhat significantly
Yes, slightly
Not at all
Not sure
*
13.
As you address technology-related issues in 2024, which of the following will you consider? (Check all that apply.)
(Required.)
Invest in eCommerce
Invest in payments technologies
Enhance call center capabilities
Enhance the company website
Enhance fraud and cybercrime prevention tools and systems
Invest in workflow automation
Invest more to support remote workers
Invest in AI-based solutions
Upgrade IT systems
Other (please specify)
*
14.
On a scale of 1 - 10 (Where 1 means "Extremely worried" and 10 means "Not worried at all") how worried are you about the potential impact to your business of a recession this year?
(Required.)
Extremely worried
Not worried at all
Extremely worried
Not worried at all
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15.
How has your staffing model changed since the pandemic in 2020/21? (Check all that apply.)
(Required.)
It hasn’t changed
We have returned to the workplace
We are now fully remote
We moved to a hybrid model
We have increased the use of contract or part-time employees
We have reduced our physical office/manufacturing space
We have replaced staff with technology
Other (please specify)
*
16.
As you address staffing issues in 2024, which of the following will you consider? (Check all that apply.)
(Required.)
Increase pay
Increase employee benefits (e.g. insurance, vacation, tuition, etc.)
Increase employee training
Offer signing bonuses to new employees
Offer paid childcare or childcare credits to employees
Accommodate flexible work schedules
Accommodate working remotely
Increase the advertising of open positions
Look to replace workers or job functions with technology
Outsource certain company functions to outside firms
Use online job search sites
Use professional recruiters
Increase campus hiring efforts
Not sure
*
17.
Which best describes your position in your company?
(Required.)
Principal owner/partner
President/CEO
Senior manager
Middle manager
*
18.
Number of employees in your company?
(Required.)
1-20
21-50
51-100
101-250
251-500
Over 500
*
19.
What industry classification best describes your business?
(Required.)
Manufacturing
Service
Agriculture
Health
Other
Current Progress,
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