Connecticut residents are becoming more optimistic about the state’s economy, and job and business environment, according to a new survey.
About 77 percent of state residents surveyed recently by InformCT, a public-private, nonpartisan research group, said the local business climate has improved or remained the same over the last six months. That represents the survey’s highest percentage of optimism since 2016.
Seventy-six percent of residents said they believe the business environment in Connecticut will be better, or about the same, by year-end. This also marks the fourth consecutive quarter for positive outlook, with just 24 percent claiming the state’s business climate will dip in the six months ahead.
The survey says 31 percent of residents believe the state economy is improving, a 7 percent and 10 percent increase since the first quarter this year and the year-ago period, respectively. The percentage of respondents with negative outlooks for the state’s economy has dropped each of the last four quarters.
More residents (23 percent) feel there are enough jobs for those seeking work, the best mark since the survey began in the first quarter 2015. Meantime, 23 percent of respondents believe jobs are difficult to obtain in Connecticut.
About 55 percent of respondents said Connecticut is a good place to live and raise a family, up 6 percent from last quarter.
But 40 percent of residents still say they are planning to leave Connecticut by 2023. About 42 percent said they are unlikely to leave the state and 18 percent are undecided.
Their concerns focus around job stability and rising healthcare costs.
The survey says 34 percent of respondents believe their partner or spouse’s job is in jeopardy and just 22 percent believe they will earn enough to retire comfortably. Another 59 percent said they are concerned about paying for health insurance.
The survey, administered by the Connecticut Economic Resource Center Inc., of  Rocky Hill, drew from 505 state residents in late June.
