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PA Chamber Manager of Government Affairs Alex Halper recently appeared on Comcast Newsmakers to discuss the results of the PA Chamber’s 21^st Annual Pennsylvania Economic Survey.

Conducted by Harrisburg-based Susquehanna Polling and Research, the survey asked

 650 PA Chamber member and non-member business leaders their views on the economy, Pennsylvania’s business climate and legislative issues impacting job creators.

Halper touched on key findings from the survey, including an outlook of cautious optimism among respondents. He noted that 18 percent of business leader surveyed share the view that the business climate in Pennsylvania had improved over the past 12 months – a 10 percent improvement over last year’s results.

While still far below what was being reported prior to the recession, the more positive tone among job creators this year is due to slight gains in hiring, sales and investment, and the enactment of pro-business policies at the state level, such as the Fair Share Act, unemployment compensation reform, and an on-time fiscally responsible state budget that did not raise taxes on businesses or individuals.

However, Halper also stressed that survey participants cited the economy and government regulations/mandates as their top concerns for the future, coupled with worries that increasing health-care costs and high business taxes could negatively impact their bottom line.

The same concerns were also vetted in another recent survey by PNC, with 65 percent of the 1,460 national business owners who were surveyed expressing general pessimism when asked for their thoughts on the national economy.

The PA Chamber will continue working with the Corbett administration and lawmakers to pursue a pro-business legislative agenda that will foster long-overdue private sector opportunities needed to improve Pennsylvania’s competitive standing and future economic outlook. 

To view the Comcast Newsmakers interview, click here.

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Founded in 1916, the Pennsylvania Chamber of Business and Industry is the state's largest broad-based business association, with its membership comprising businesses of all sizes and across all industry sectors. The PA Chamber is The Statewide Voice of Business.