Small business owners in Saskatchewan remain optimistic about the future, according to the latest monthly Business Barometer released by the Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB).
Saskatchewan had a barometer index that rose slightly to 66.5 in December from 66.4. The national index sat at 62.6.
The report said 55 per cent of Saskatchewan small business owners rate their overall state of business as good, second highest in the country and ahead of the national average of 41 per cent. Twenty-two per cent plan to increase full-time employment in the next few months.
"It is good to see Saskatchewan small business owners ending 2012 among the most optimistic in Canada," said Marilyn Braun-Pollon, the CFIB's Prairie vice-president. "Yet, optimism is somewhat lower than we saw in early 2012. Let's hope upcoming federal, provincial and municipal budgets introduce policies that sharpen Saskatchewan's competitive edge and fuel optimism in 2013."
The biggest challenge facing businesses is the shortage of skilled labour (50 per cent), followed by management skills and time constraints (30 per cent), the report said.
Nationally, the barometer remained steady at 62.6, just off its 62.9 reading in November. The index finishes 2012 at a level better than its summer performance, but below levels registered earlier in the year.
Businesses in Newfoundland and Labrador are still the country's most optimistic, but the index level is down to 69.1. Saskatchewan (66.5) and Alberta (65.7) are second and third, respectively.
Business Barometer is a monthly publication of the CFIB. Measured on a scale of 0 and 100, an index level above 50 means owners expecting their business' performance to be stronger in the next year outnumber those expecting weaker performance.
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Source: http://www.thestarphoenix.com/business/Sask+small+business+owners+upbeat/7768636/story.html
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