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Survey Results – Northeast Region

Survey Questions

1. What is your job title?

2. Generally speaking, in regards to business environment in the state, would you say that things in Washington are going in the right direction, or have they gotten off on the wrong track?

3. Thinking about the next 12 months, do you anticipate an economic expansion, a flat economy or a recession?

4. From a financial perspective, how confident do you feel right now about the future for your firm?

5. As you look overall at 2010, do you project your firm’s gross revenues to increase or decrease compared to 2009, or will they probably stay the same?

6. And, overall in 2010, do you project your firm’s profitability to increase or decrease compared to 2009, or will it probably stay the same?

7. And, in 2010, do you project your firm’s capital expenditures to increase or decrease compared to 2009, or will they probably stay the same?

8. Now, I would like to read you a list of factors that some companies are concerned about. For each one, please rate how concerned your firm is about that particular factor using a scale from 1 to 10, where one means that your firm is NOT AT ALL CONCERNED about it and where ten means your firm is VERY CONCERNED about it. You can choose any number between one and ten depending on how strongly you feel about it.

  • Increased competition from foreign sources.
  • The financial stability of key customers.
  • Pricing pressures from competitors.
  • The cost of goods.
  • Federal, state and local taxes.
  • The costs of health care coverage.
  • The availability of capital.
  • The ability to attract and retain qualified workers.
  • How Washington public schools, colleges and universities are preparing students for the workforce.
  • The quality of the state’s education system.
  • State government policies and regulations.
  • Federal government policies and regulations.

9. Over the past year or so, has your firm experienced lender problems, such as bank closures, bank acquisitions, or changes in bank lending focus?
10. Over the past year or so, has your firm had challenges with generating revenue?
11. Over the past year or so, has your firm had challenges producing profits or cash flows?
12. Over the past year or so, have your customers been paying slower?
13. How much of an impact has that had on your business?

14. Generally speaking, would you say that as a percentage of payroll will your company invest MORE in employee development or LESS this year compared to 2009, or will it stay about the same?

15. On average, over the last two years, have your firm’s wages increased, decreased or stayed about the same?

16. Do you expect the average wages to increase or decrease during the next two years, or will they stay about the same?

17. What percentage of your workforce do you expect to lose to retirement over the next two years?

18. How difficult is it to attract qualified candidates for your firm’s vacancies?

19. Does your company, from time to time, ever have a need to go outside your existing staff or workforce for outside consulting or technical assistance?

20. Next I am going to read to you a list of different resources available to businesses like yours. After I read each one, please tell me how likely your firm is to use that resource. If I name one you don’t know too much about, just tell me and we’ll go on to the next one.

  • Community colleges or universities.
  • Private for-profit consultants.
  • Local MEP affiliate, such as Impact Washington, previously known as WMS.
  • Trade associations.
  • Professional associations, such as SME.

21. Now focusing on public education here in Washington ONLY, as you know, students are often given the grades A, B, C, D and F for FAIL to denote the quality of their work. Suppose the public schools themselves were graded in this same way…

  • What grade would you give public elementary and secondary schools when it comes to preparing their students to meet your workforce needs?
  • And, what grade would you give public colleges and universities when it comes to preparing their students to meet your workforce needs?

22. How much of your product do you ship domestically outside of Washington?

23. How much of your product do you ship internationally?

24. And, approximately, when did you start shipping your product internationally?

25. And, what region of the world you typically export to?

26. Thinking ahead to next year, do you expect the amount that you ship internationally to increase, decrease or stay the same?

27. What do you consider to be the biggest barrier to your firm pursuing more business opportunities overseas?

28. How many people does your company employ in all its facilities in Washington?

29. What are your annual business revenues?

30. And, is the product or products your firm manufactures better described as a consumer finished good or a component or part of a supply chain?

31. How many years has your firm been in operation?

32. Age

33. Gender

34. DMA./County

35. Region./County

Survey Responses

1. What is your job title?

  • Owner = 31%
  • Manager = 23%
  • President = 14%
  • Vice President = 14%
  • Managing Officer = 0%
  • Chief Executive Officer = 0%
  • Director = 0%
  • Treasurer = 3%
  • Chief Administrator = 3%
  • Supervisor = 3%
  • Controller = 0%
  • Managing Partner = 0%
  • President of Operations = 0%
  • Partner = 3%
  • Division Vice President = 0%
  • Chief Financial Officer = 0%
  • Chief Operating Officer = 0%
  • Division President = 0%
  • Other = 6%

2. Generally speaking, in regards to business environment in the state, would you say that things in Washington are going in the right direction, or have they gotten off on the wrong track?

  • Right Direction = 20%
  • Wrong Track = 74%
  • Don’t Know/Unsure = 6%
  • Refused = 0%

3. Thinking about the next 12 months, do you anticipate an economic expansion, a flat economy or a recession?

  • Economic Expansion = 11%
  • Recession = 43%
  • Flat Economy = 40%
  • Don’t Know/Unsure = 6%
  • Refused = 0%

4. From a financial perspective, how confident do you feel right now about the future for your firm?

  • Very Confident = 26%
  • Somewhat Confident = 46%
  • Not Very Confident = 9%
  • Not At All Confident = 20%
  • Don’t Know/Unsure = 0%
  • Refused = 0%

5. As you look overall at 2010, do you project your firm’s gross revenues to increase or decrease compared to 2009, or will they probably stay the same?

  • Increase By More Than 10% = 14%
  • Increase By Less Than 10% = 6%
  • Decrease By Less Than 10% = 9%
  • Decrease By More Than 10% = 29%
  • Stay The Same = 43%
  • Too Soon To Say/Don’t Know = 0%

6. And, overall in 2010, do you project your firm’s profitability to increase or decrease compared to 2009, or will it probably stay the same?

  • Increase By More Than 10% = 11%
  • Increase By Less Than 10% = 6%
  • Decrease By Less Than 10% = 9%
  • Decrease By More Than 10% = 34%
  • Stay The Same = 34%
  • Too Soon To Say/Don’t Know = 6%

7. And, in 2010, do you project your firm’s capital expenditures to increase or decrease compared to 2009, or will they probably stay the same

  • Increase By More Than 10% = 14%
  • Increase By Less Than 10% = 6%
  • Decrease By Less Than 10% = 17%
  • Decrease By More Than 10% = 34%
  • Stay The Same = 29%%
  • Too Soon To Say/Don’t Know = 0%
  • Refused = 0%

8. Now, I would like to read you a list of factors that some companies are concerned about. For each one, please rate how concerned your firm is about that particular factor using a scale from 1 to 10, where one means that your firm is NOT AT ALL CONCERNED about it and where ten means your firm is VERY CONCERNED about it. You can choose any number between one and ten depending on how strongly you feel about it.

  • Increased competition from foreign sources.
    • 10 = 17%
    • 9 = 6%
    • 8 = 11%
    • 7 = 6%
    • 6 = 9%
    • 5 = 3%
    • 4 = 6%
    • 3 = 14%
    • 2 = 11%
    • 1 = 17%
    • Don’t Know/Refused = 0%
  • The financial stability of key customers.
    • 10 = 23%
    • 9 = 9%
    • 8 = 23%
    • 7 = 6%
    • 6 = 9%
    • 5 = 11%
    • 4 = 6%
    • 3 = 3%
    • 2 = 11%
    • 1 = 0%
  • Pricing pressures from competitors.
    • 10 = 14%
    • 9 = 6%
    • 8 = 17%
    • 7 = 17%
    • 6 = 0%
    • 5 = 20%
    • 4 = 9%
    • 3 = 11%
    • 2 = 3%
    • 1 = 3%
    • Don’t Know/Refused = 0%
  • The cost of goods.
    • 10 = 26%
    • 9 = 3%
    • 8 = 11%
    • 7 = 6%
    • 6 = 11%
    • 5 = 20%
    • 4 = 9%
    • 3 = 6%
    • 2 = 6%
    • 1 = 3%
  • Federal, state and local taxes.
    • 10 = 69%
    • 9 = 0%
    • 8 = 6%
    • 7 = 3%
    • 6 = 9%
    • 5 = 9%
    • 4 = 0%
    • 3 = 6%
    • 2 = 0%
    • 1 = 0%
    • Don’t Know/Refused = 0%
  • The costs of health care coverage.
    • 10 = 60%
    • 9 = 20%
    • 8 = 3%
    • 7 = 3%
    • 6 = 3%
    • 5 = 6%
    • 4 = 3%
    • 3 = 0%
    • 2 = 0%
    • 1 = 3%
    • Don’t Know/Refused = 0%
  • The availability of capital.
    • 10 = 29%
    • 9 = 0%
    • 8 = 3%
    • 7 = 3%
    • 6 = 9%
    • 5 = 23%
    • 4 = 14%
    • 3 = 9%
    • 2 = 3%
    • 1 = 6%
    • Don’t Know/Refused = 3%
  • The ability to attract and retain qualified workers.
    • 10 = 26%
    • 9 = 3%
    • 8 = 6%
    • 7 = 3%
    • 6 = 3%
    • 5 = 17%
    • 4 = 6%
    • 3 = 17%
    • 2 = 9%
    • 1 = 11%
    • Don’t Know/Refused = 0%
  • How Washington public schools, colleges and universities are preparing students for the workforce.
    • 10 = 32%
    • 9 = 5%
    • 8 = 11%
    • 7 = 11%
    • 6 = 16%
    • 5 = 0%
    • 4 = 5%
    • 3 = 5%
    • 2 = 11%
    • 1 = 5%
    • Don’t Know/Refused = 0%
  • The quality of the state’s education system.
    • 10 = 19%
    • 9 = 0%
    • 8 = 13%
    • 7 = 13%
    • 6 = 13%
    • 5 = 13%
    • 4 = 13%
    • 3 = 0%
    • 2 = 13%
    • 1 = 6%
    • Don’t Know/Refused = 0%
  • State government policies and regulations.
    • 10 = 63%
    • 9 = 11%
    • 8 = 5%
    • 7 = 0%
    • 6 = 5%
    • 5 = 0%
    • 4 = 5%
    • 3 = 5%
    • 2 = 0%
    • 1 = 5%
    • Don’t Know/Refused = 0%
  • Federal government policies and regulations.
    • 10 = 56%
    • 9 = 13%
    • 8 = 19%
    • 7 = 0%
    • 6 = 0%
    • 5 = 6%
    • 4 = 0%
    • 3 = 6%
    • 2 = 0%
    • 1 = 0%
    • Don’t Know/Refused = 0%

9. Over the past year or so, has your firm experienced lender problems, such as bank closures, bank acquisitions, or changes in bank lending focus?

  • Yes = 29%
  • No = 71%
  • Don’t Know/Refused = 0%

10. Over the past year or so, has your firm had challenges with generating revenue?

  • Yes = 46%
  • No = 54%
  • Don’t Know/Refused = 0%

11. Over the past year or so, has your firm had challenges producing profits or cash flows?

  • Yes = 54%
  • No = 46%
  • Don’t Know/Refused = 1%

12. Over the past year or so, have your customers been paying slower?

  • Yes = 63%
  • No = 34%
  • Don’t Know/Refused = 3%

13. How much of an impact has that had on your business?

  • A Significant Impact = 46%
  • A Modest Impact = 25%
  • Only A Minor Impact = 21%
  • No Impact At All = 7%
  • Don’t Know= 0%

14. Generally speaking, would you say that as a percentage of payroll will your company invest MORE in employee development or LESS this year compared to 2009, or will it stay about the same?

  • Will Invest More = 11%
  • Will Invest Less = 40%
  • Stay The Same = 46%
  • Don’t Know = 3%
  • Refused = 0%

15. On average, over the last two years, have your firm’s wages increased, decreased or stayed about the same?

  • Increased Considerably = 11%
  • Increased A Little = 11%
  • Decreased A Little = 3%
  • Decreased Considerably = 23%
  • Stayed The Same = 51%
  • Don’t Know = 0%
  • Refused = 0%

16. Do you expect the average wages to increase or decrease during the next two years, or will they stay about the same?

  • Increase = 11%
  • Decrease = 17%
  • Stay About The Same = 71%
  • Don’t Know = 0%
  • Refused = 0%

17. What percentage of your workforce do you expect to lose to retirement over the next two years?

  • 0% = 71%
  • 1-5% = 14%
  • 6-10% = 6%
  • 11% + = 6%
  • Don’t Know = 3%
  • Refused = 0%

18. How difficult is it to attract qualified candidates for your firm’s vacancies?

  • Very Difficult= 29%
  • Somewhat Difficult = 23%
  • Not Too Difficult = 26%
  • Not Difficult At All = 20%
  • Don’t Know = 3%
  • Refused = 0%

19. Does your company, from time to time, ever have a need to go outside your existing staff or workforce for outside consulting or technical assistance?

  • Yes, Have Had To Go Outside For Consulting Or Technical Assistance = 37%
  • No, Have Not Had To = 63%
  • Don’t Know = 0%

20. Next I am going to read to you a list of different resources available to businesses like yours. After I read each one, please tell me how likely your firm is to use that resource. If I name one you don’t know too much about, just tell me and we’ll go on to the next one.

  • Community colleges or universities.
    • Very Likely = 11%
    • Somewhat Likely = 31%
    • Not Likely = 54%
    • Never Heard Of = 3%
    • Don’t Know = 0%
    • Refused = 0%
  • Private for-profit consultants.
    • Very Likely = 6%
    • Somewhat Likely = 11%
    • Not Likely = 71%
    • Never Heard Of = 6%
    • Don’t Know = 6%
    • Refused = 0%
  • Local MEP affiliate, such as Impact Washington, previously known as WMS.
    • Very Likely = 6%
    • Somewhat Likely = 6%
    • Not Likely = 60%
    • Never Heard Of = 23%
    • Don’t Know = 6%
    • Refused = 0%
  • Trade associations.
    • Very Likely = 14%
    • Somewhat Likely = 34%
    • Not Likely = 43%
    • Never Heard Of = 3%
    • Don’t Know = 6%
    • Refused = 0%
  • Professional associations, such as SME.
    • Very Likely = 3%
    • Somewhat Likely = 20%
    • Not Likely = 46%
    • Never Heard Of = 20%
    • Don’t Know = 11%
    • Refused = 0%

21. Now focusing on public education here in Washington ONLY, as you know, students are often given the grades A, B, C, D and F for FAIL to denote the quality of their work. Suppose the public schools themselves were graded in this same way…

  • What grade would you give public elementary and secondary schools when it comes to preparing their students to meet your workforce needs?
    • A = 3%
    • B = 14%
    • C = 34%
    • D = 29%
    • F/Fail = 17%
    • Don’t Know = 0%
    • Refused = 3%
  • And, what grade would you give public colleges and universities when it comes to preparing their students to meet your workforce needs?
    • A = 9%
    • B = 26%
    • C = 34%
    • D = 29%
    • F/Fail = 3%
    • Don’t Know = 0%
    • Refused = 0%

22. How much of your product do you ship domestically outside of Washington?

  • None = 14%
  • 10% or Less = 20%
  • 11% – 25% = 23%
  • 26% – 50% = 23%
  • 51% or More = 20%
  • Don’t Know/Not Sure = 0%

23. How much of your product do you ship internationally?

  • None = 71%
  • 10% or Less = 23%
  • 11% – 25% = 6%
  • 26% – 50% = 0%
  • 51% or More = 0%
  • Don’t Know/Not Sure = 0%

24. And, approximately, when did you start shipping your product internationally?

  • Within The Past Year Or Two = 10%
  • 3-5 Years Ago = 20%
  • 5-10 Years Ago = 30%
  • More Than Ten Years Ago = 40%
  • Don’t Know/Not Sure = 0%
  • Refused = 0%

25. And, what region of the world you typically export to?

  • Canada = 50%
  • Eastern Asia = 20%
  • Western Europe = 10%
  • Eastern Europe = 10%
  • Australia and New Zealand = 10%
  • South America = 10%
  • Northern Europe = 0%
  • South-Eastern Asia = 10%
  • South-Central Asia = 0%
  • Western Asia = 0%
  • Central America = 10%
  • Melanesia, Micronesia, and Polynesia = 10%
  • Southern Europe = 0%
  • Southern Africa = 0%
  • Caribbean = 0%
  • Middle Africa = 0%
  • Northern Africa = 0%
  • Everywhere/All Over = 10%
  • Other = 0%
  • Refused = 0%

26. Thinking ahead to next year, do you expect the amount that you ship internationally to increase, decrease or stay the same?

  • Increase Considerably = 10%
  • Increase A Little = 20%
  • Decrease A Little = 0%
  • Decrease Considerably = 20%
  • Stay The Same = 50%
  • Don’t Know = 0%
  • Refused = 0%

27. What do you consider to be the biggest barrier to your firm pursuing more business opportunities overseas?

  • No Market Opportunities for My Product = 29%
  • Regulations Or Red Tape = 14%
  • Financial Risks = 9%
  • Lack of Expertise = 14%
  • Export Controls = 3%
  • Lack of Infrastructure = 6%
  • Language Or Communication Barriers = 0%
  • Lack of Legal Protections = 0%
  • Corruption = 3%
  • Lack of Specific Certification = 0%
  • Cultural Barriers = 0%
  • Other = 0%
  • Not Interested = 3%
  • Competition = 0%
  • Production Capacity = 3%
  • Lack of Time Internally= 0%
  • Economy = 0%
  • All of the Above = 0%
  • Don’t Know = 9%
  • Refused = 9%

28. How many people does your company employ in all its facilities in Washington?

  • Under 50 = 91%
  • 51 – 150 = 9%
  • 151 – 250 = 0%
  • More Than 250 = 0%
  • Don’t Know/Not Sure = 0%
  • Refused = 0%

29. What are your annual business revenues?

  • $1 Million – $5 Million = 23%
  • $5 Million – $10 Million = 0%
  • $10 Million – $20 Million = 6%
  • $20 Million = 6%
  • Don’t Know/Not Sure/Refused = 6%

30. And, is the product or products your firm manufactures better described as a consumer finished good or a component or part of a supply chain?

  • A Consumer Finished Good = 49%
  • A Component Or Part Of A Supply Chain = 43%
  • Don’t Know/Not Sure/Refused = 9%

31. How many years has your firm been in operation?

  • Less Than 1 Year = 0%
  • 1 – 3 Years = 0%
  • 4 – 6 Years = 6%
  • 7 – 10 Years = 9%
  • 11 – 15 Years = 17%
  • 16 Years or More = 69%

32. Age

  • 18 – 24 = 0%
  • 25 – 34 = 6%
  • 35 – 44 = 9%
  • 45 – 54 = 43%
  • 55 – 64 = 29%
  • 65 And Above = 14%
  • Refused = 0%

33. Gender

  • Male = 74%
  • Female = 26%

34. DMA./County

  • Grant = 6%
  • Stevens = 6%
  • Whitman = 0%
  • Spokane = 80%
  • Benton = 0%
  • Franklin = 0%
  • Kittitas = 3%
  • Walla Walla = 0%
  • Yakima = 0%
  • Chelan = 6%
  • Clallam = 0%
  • Grays Harbor = 0%
  • Island = 0%
  • Jefferson = 0%
  • King = 0%
  • Kitsap = 0%
  • Lewis = 0%
  • Mason = 0%
  • Pacific = 0%
  • Pierce = 0%
  • Thurston = 0%
  • Skagit = 0%
  • Snohomish = 0%
  • Whatcom = 0%
  • Clark = 0%
  • Cowlitz = 0%
  • Klickitat = 0%

35. Region./County

  • East = 100%
  • King = 0%
  • Northwest/Snohomish = 0%
  • Southwest/Pierce = 0%