Alberta back on top in small business confidence in Canada
Posted Mar 27, 2014 12:01 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
According to the Canadian Federation of Independent Business’ Business Barometer Index, the province’s survey results in March are leading the country in optimism at 72.7.
For the first time in nine months, Alberta is back in top spot when it comes to small business confidence.
The national index remained unchanged in March at 64.1 because of mixed results in the country. Confidence is up in the west and down in the east.
The survey finds 34 per cent of Alberta small business owners intend to hire someone in the next three months and over half are expressing positive views about their future.
Amber Ruddy, a senior policy analyst with the CFIB, said one of the reasons it appears Alberta is doing well is because others are doing poorly.
“Because other provinces are pulling the national average down, when you look at the Atlantic region, unfortunately they’re not going where they need to be for the economy to grow in a healthy state,” she said.
Ruddy said when it comes to the ongoing challenge among entrepreneurs, one issue continues to pop up.
“The shortage of skilled labour and even semi-skilled and unskilled labour continue to be top challenges for businesses; 36 per cent of businesses saying this is the case,” she said.
Prairie industries that are seeing improvement include agriculture and construction, offsetting decreases in manufacturing in Ontario.
