HARRISBURG, Pa., Dec. 2, 2002 (PRIMEZONE) -- For the first time in six years, Health Care Costs have displaced Business Taxes, as the top policy priority for Pennsylvania businesses, according to the 12th Annual Pennsylvania Economic Survey. Tort Reform/Medical Malpractice, Workers' Compensation and Workforce/Labor Issues round out the top five list of business concerns.
Conducted by the Pennsylvania Chamber of Business and Industry, this year's second-ever online survey also reveals an increase in the number of businesses that would leave the Commonwealth if they could due to the business climate, with 25.77% of the survey's 360 respondents saying they would leave, versus only 16.24% in last year's survey.
Despite more businesses indicating their desire to leave the state, 87% of respondents considered Pennsylvania's overall business climate to be "Fair" to "Excellent." 13.06% gave the business climate a "Poor" rating as opposed to just 8.87% last year. Although the respondents of this year's survey also indicated a lower-than-projected sales performance, there also seems to be growing optimism that the economy will pick up again and the business climate will improve. Complete results of this year's survey can be found on the PA Chamber's Web site at www.pachamber.org.
"Once again, we would like to thank those individuals who took the time to complete the survey and for offering their valuable opinions, suggestions and constructive criticism," said PA Chamber President Floyd Warner. "This survey continues to be a valuable tool that enables the Pennsylvania Chamber to accurately identify and communicate the concerns, issues and priorities of our diverse membership to legislative decision-makers on Capitol Hill."
With more than 10,000 members representing every county in the Commonwealth, the Pennsylvania Chamber of Business and Industry is the state's largest broad-based business association and the fastest-growing state chamber in the United States.