A survey of Wisconsin business leaders finds cautious optimism for 2014. “I think there’s guarded optimism, said Kurt Bauer, President and CEO of Wisconsin Manufactuers and Commerce. “I’m a little careful about the optimism, because for several years now we’ve seen optimistic reports coming out, and it’s been a bit premature. This is the most optimistic we’ve seen our members in the last three years or so.” WMC surveyed 341 Wisconsin CEOs.
Forty-seven percent of employers say that the U.S. economy will see moderate growth during the first six months of this year, while 65 percent say the Wisconsin economy will experience moderate growth. And 95 percent say Wisconsin is going in the right direction. “The fact that businesses – employers – believe the state is headed in the right direction, makes them optimistic, which means they’re more likely to expand and make the kinds of investments that lead to hiring, which is what we all want,” said Bauer. Top business concerns are sluggish economic recovery, followed by health care, regulations, labor shortages and taxes.