Area businesses fear how much health care could hemorrhage its bottom line, according to recent surveys, but the overall outlook foresees a bright future.
The 28th annual University at Albany School of Business and Marvin and Company “Business Climate Survey” released in late February revealed more than 90 percent of businesses plan to remain stable or expand during this year. More than 80 percent of respondents saw their business increase or remain stable during last year, with almost 70 percent viewing the Capital District economy as recovering or prospering.
Health care costs remained the top concern, though, which has occurred all but two of the last 19 years.
Kevin O’Leary, director of Marvin and Company, noted more than half of respondents expect the area’s economy to continue prospering during the next several years despite “ongoing concern regarding health care costs, taxes, the national economy and government regulations.”
O’Leary added more than 40 percent of regional businesses said the growing technology industry has had a significant or moderate positive impact.
“The technology sector of the Capital Region continues to help the other businesses in our economy,” O’Leary said in a statement.
Almost 65 percent of businesses credit the Affordable Care Act (ACA) for increasing costs to the company or its employees, and 22 percent said the law required significant changes to health insurance coverage.
“Capital Region firms continue to prosper, despite significant concerns about the rising cost of health care,” Donald Siegel, dean of UAlbany’s School of Business, said in a statement. “The results showcase the resiliency of area businesses, stimulated by regional and federal investment in high technology, innovation and entrepreneurship.”
Before UAlbany’s results were released, Siena College Research Institute released similar findings in its seventh annual Upstate New York Business Leader Survey.
Approximately 80 percent of Siena’s survey respondents were concerned about health care costs, with nearly 70 percent believing the ACA will negatively impact their business. Almost a third of the companies surveyed said benefits had already been decreased to cut costs. There has also been an increase in hiring part-time employees and 18 percent had reduced hours of existing employees.
“While cautiously upbeat, CEOs in most of Upstate remain realistic and know that despite current growth and anticipated future progress, they ‘won’t be fooled again,’” Siena College Research Institute Director Don Levy said in a statement. “Two years ago they thought the dam of prosperity was about to open, but after a disappointing 2012 and an improving 2013, they believe the cash register will ring, but not roar in 2014.”
Levy also said business leaders remain committed to New York, but around two-thirds said they would locate their business outside of the state if they had to do it all over again.
Siena’s survey included interviews from 651 business leaders from the Albany, Buffalo, Rochester and Syracuse areas. UAlbany’s study was conducted through area chamber of commerce organizations and included Albany-Colonie, Bethlehem, Colonie, Guilderland, Adirondack, Columbia, Rensselaer County, Saratoga County, Southern Saratoga County and Schenectady County.
Business Climate Survey results were also broken down into each chamber, which did reveal some differences to questions.
The Albany-Colonie Regional Chamber has almost 59 percent of respondents claiming overall business increased last year, but only 38.5 percent of Bethlehem respondents said business increased. Guilderland Chamber reported even lower at 29.4 percent. Locally, the Colonie Chamber led at 64.3 seeing an increase.
Similar results were also seen when chamber respondents were questioned if they saw their business increasing, remaining stable or decreasing this year.
Albany-Colonie Chamber respondents were the most optimistic with almost 64 percent predicting an increase in business this year. The Colonie Chamber had almost 47 percent foreseeing an increase. Guilderland Chamber results were slightly ahead of Bethlehem with 29.4 percent to 23.1 percent, respectively.