The majority of small businesses—55 percent—say progressive policies like the Obamacare mandate, minimum wage hikes, and regulation threaten expansion of their business, according to the 2017 small business survey from the Job Creators Network.
The survey found government policies continue to hamper small business, while most say they are optimistic about the Trump administration's policies and what they can do for their employees and their business.
Small businesses were asked whether they agreed with the statement that "the recent increase in government requirements like the health care mandate, minimum wage and other regulations threatens the viability and/or expansion of my business."
Forty-two percent of respondents said they strongly agreed, and 12 percent said they somewhat agreed. Only 19 percent said they strongly disagreed, and 10 percent said they somewhat disagreed. Sixteen percent of small businesses remained neutral.
Seventy percent of small businesses said high taxes and tax complexity threatens the viability and ability to expand their business, while only 22 percent said they did not agree with that sentiment.
Business owners were not confident that they had the ability to change government policy. Fifty-nine percent of small businesses said their voice as a small business owner could not make a difference, compared with 34.5 percent who said they could.
Small businesses were generally optimistic about President Trump and his policies. Fifty-seven percent of small business owners said that Trump's policies would have a positive effect on their business, their employees, and their customers, while only 24 percent disagreed.
"The Job Creators Network's new national small business poll finds that respondents are still facing barriers from overregulation and high tax rates, preventing them from expanding and hiring new employees," said president and CEO Alfredo Ortiz. "Yet the survey also shows they are optimistic about President Trump’s ability to knock these hurdles down. As his job creation agenda of tax reform and deregulation takes effect, small businesses will thrive and expand, increasing jobs, wages, and economic growth."
Further, more individuals in the labor force are more hopeful about finding a job, according to a survey from Express Employment Professionals.
Ninety-two percent of the unemployed say they are hopeful that they will find a job they really want in the next six months, which is up from 87 percent who said so last year.
While 33 percent of Americans without a job say they have completely given up looking, it has improved from 43 percent who said the same last year.
"It's troubling that one third of our fellow Americans who are unemployed say they have given up finding work," said Bob Funk, CEO of Express Employment Professionals. "But when you look a little closer, there are signs of a positive trend from previous years; fewer have given up, more are hopeful, fewer blame the economy, and fewer are unemployed due to layoffs."