Saskatchewan businesses are the most optimistic in Canada according to a recent survey.
The Canadian Federation of Independent Business monthly business barometer, which reveals optimism for the year ahead among small-business owners in Saskatchewan, increased by 4.6 points in March to 75.2 from an index of 70.6 in February, and is well ahead of the national index of 69.2. The report also noted that 30 per cent of Saskatchewan businesses also plan to increase full-time employment in the next three to four months - the highest in Canada.
Other highlights include:
• 51 per cent of Saskatchewan businesses say the overall state of business is good (compared with 38 per cent nationally); 44 per cent say it's satisfactory (47 per cent nationally);
• 30 per cent of Saskatchewan businesses plan to increase full-time employment in the next three to four months (20 per cent nationally) and only 4 per cent plan to decrease (11 per cent nationally); and
• the shortage of skilled labour (46 per cent) is identified as the main business constraint in Saskatchewan.
from Western Investor July 2011
