Business Confidence on the Sunshine Coast Drops

Business confidence on the Sunshine Coast has decreased over the past three months, according to the latest Sunshine Coast Business Confidence Survey results released at a function to announce Sunshine Coast TAFE as the business survey’s next naming rights sponsor.

This was confirmed with the latest Commonwealth Bank/Commerce Queensland Pulse survey indicating 45% of businesses across the State compared to only 33% of businesses on the Sunshine Coast believed that the results over the next three months will be stronger than the last three months.

Senior economist with AEC group, Mr Campbell said the results actually indicated a tempering of business results that could be due to a decrease in visitors to the region.

 “Statistics from Tourism Queensland for the year ending December 2009 does show a minor decrease in both domestic and international visitors from the year earlier, -4% and -1% respectively.”

Mr Campbell said there was a significant drop (22%) in businesses reporting stronger results over the past three months, compared with the previous period, while at the same time businesses reporting weaker results increased by around 8%.

Fourteen percent of companies reported business had remained the same.
“Overall this can be seen as a tempering of business results instead of a significant weakening of the business climate, however the shift is note worthy,” Mr Campbell said.  “In any cases the overall results still indicate a positive business climate with 70% of business describing the same or stronger results.”  Boardroom Business survey spokesperson Steve Lawrence said the latest business confidence survey also tackled the complex issue of Industrial Relations (IR).

Mr Lawrence said businesses understanding of IR issues on the Sunshine Coast appeared relatively good, with 72% of respondents stating they were complying with the latest industrial awards regulations.

He said 28% of respondents were unsure if they were complying or not complying and of this sample 80% were unsure how long since they had checked the award or did not know where to find out.

Mr Lawrence welcomed Sunshine Coast TAFE on board as the new naming rights sponsor of the survey.

For a full copy of the latest survey report go to www.boardroombusiness.com.au

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