Latest Florida Chamber Small Business Index Survey Shows
If lawmakers phase out Florida’s tourism marketing program, VISIT FLORIDA, it could greatly diminish the employability skills training ground the tourism and hospitality industry provide, putting greater strain on small businesses to identify and hire employees with needed workforce skills, the Florida Chamber of Commerce said today.
“As the future of VISIT FLORIDA is being debated in the Legislature, job creators around Florida continue to tell us workforce quality remains their top concern,” said Dr. Jerry Parrish, Chief Economist for the Florida Chamber Foundation. “What many people in Florida don’t realize is that Florida’s hospitality industry is one of the largest trainers of employability skills in the world. Florida hospitality companies are training employees for all of Florida’s companies— from manufacturing to trade & logistics, to business services, and more.”
The Florida Chamber’s second quarterly statewide Small Business Index Survey shows small businesses are most concerned about:
- Workforce Quality – 32%
- Economic Uncertainty – 10%
- Access to Capital – 10%
- Lawsuit Abuse – 7%
- Healthcare Costs – 7%
- Government Regulations – 7%
Of Florida small businesses, 49 percent of respondents expect the economy to improve, up from 44 percent last quarter. More interesting, 38 percent of businesses expect the economy to weaken over the next year.
“Workforce Quality resumed the top spot as the number one concern of Florida’s small businesses, with Economic Uncertainty and Access to Capital tying for second,” said Glenda Hood, Chair of the Florida Chamber’s Small Business Council, and Founding Partner, Hood Partners LLC. “Small businesses are the foundation of Florida’s economy, and the Florida Chamber’s Small Business Council remains committed to advocating on their behalf.”
About the Survey:
The Florida Chamber’s Small Business Index Survey was conducted electronically March 30 through April 19, 2019. 31 percent of respondents employ less than five employees, while 48 percent employ five to 49 employees. Click here to view the full report.
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 FloridaChamber.com for more information.
