Nearly 60 percent of businesses in Northwest Connecticut think they will have higher sales in 2015, but most do not plan to add to their employee base, according to a survey by the Connecticut Business & Industry Association and the Northwest Connecticut Chamber of Commerce.
Of the 194 businesses that responded, 59 percent said they anticipate higher sales next year and 46 percent think pre-tax profits will increase.
More than half expect no change to the size of their workforce, while 36 percent think they will hire. Meanwhile, 9 percent expect to shrink their staff size.
Nearly 60 percent of the businesses — which mainly included finance, insurance, real estate, manufacturing and professional services — said they’ve hired over the previous year. Much of the hiring next year is expected to be replacement workers, rather than new workers, CBIA said.
Two-thirds said an aging workforce is a concern, which is 11 points higher than in 2012, when CBIA last surveyed the Northwest Connecticut business population.
The survey has a margin of error of +/- 7.2 percent.
