SC Chamber of Commerce, Department of Employment and Workforce Launches Voluntary Survey to Assess Business Environment, Issues in State
COLUMBIA, SC — Is your business affected by supply chain issues? Can’t keep or hire staff? Worried about inflation?
These are some of the issues facing businesses of all sizes across the country. Here in South Carolina, the SC Chamber of Commerce and the SC Department of Employment and Workforce (DEW) want to better understand the state’s business climate — what issues employers are facing and inform the public about the state’s economy and workforce.
To do this, the SC Chamber and DEW have partnered to launch the Palmetto Business Barometer (PBB), a voluntary, confidential monthly series of surveys that employers and business owners can complete to give the SC Chamber and DEW a better picture of the state’s business climate . The SC Chamber will manage the PBB and the DEW will analyze the data to determine how business conditions, needs and expectations are changing. Aggregate data will be published online, but individual responses will be kept confidential.
The data will be used to inform state policymakers and advocates, as well as to benefit South Carolina employers by providing useful comparisons to other business practices across the state.
“This survey is a great opportunity to hear directly from businesses about the challenges they face and what best practices are for them,” said SC Department of Employment and Workforce Executive Director Dan Ellzey. “By publishing the survey results, we’re helping employers compare notes, as well as understand what others in the state are doing right, so they can emulate and improve. Regardless of your company’s size or industry, your opinion matters and can have a huge impact on South Carolina’s business growth and state policy.”
“Just from surveying our membership, we know that South Carolina businesses are facing many obstacles from rising costs to labor shortages,” said SC Chamber Vice President of Governmental Affairs Will Frierson. “With economic uncertainty looming in 2023, we need to know what businesses are facing on the front lines and how conditions are changing for better or worse. This research will allow us to monitor trends and advocate for real solutions based on clear data.”
The first round of PBB is now live and lasts about two or three minutes. Employers have until Sunday, January 22 to complete a 12-question survey. The February PBB will launch on February 6th and will continue to open on the first full week of each month throughout 2023 for each new survey round.