An annual survey of women-owned businesses conducted by the Carlsbad Chamber of Commerce indicates a growing positive outlook on the economy among respondents, as well as a continuing trends toward hiring in the coming year.
The Carlsbad Chamber of Commerce sent out a survey to get a pulse on the women-owned businesses among its membership and ask their thoughts on the state of the economy and where they see their businesses headed in 2015.
A majority of survey respondents, a combined total of 81 percent, said their business is either on target or above target, with nearly 40 percent reporting that this year their company is above target. Almost 63 percent or those who responded to the Chamber survey said they expect to hire additional employees during the remainder of 2014 or in the following year. Of those, 54 percent said they expect to hire both full-time and part-time employees, while 34 percent said they anticipate hiring only part-time employees and 11 percent indicated they intend to hire only full time employees.
When asked how they feel about the state of the current economy, 38 percent said it's normal and 22 percent said it's strong. 38 percent said the economy is weak. In the Chamber's 2013 survey, 47 percent of respondents said the economy was weak and only 6 percent or responders categorized the economy as "strong."
The majority of survey respondents, 81 percent, were small businesses, with fewer than 15 employees. Medium sized businesses, those who have between 16-99 employees, accounted for nearly 17 percent of the respondents and the remaining percentage, about 2 percent, responded on behalf of larger businesses, with more than 99 employees.
The respondents were spread among a wide range of industries: 40 percent were in the professional services category; 11 percent in retail; 6 percent in sales and marketing and in nonprofit organizations; and 2 percent identified as hospitality and manufacturing (34 percent checked off "other"). Almost 37 percent identified themselves as home-based.
Due partly to the results of last year's survey, the Carlsbad Chamber of Commerce held a seminar geared toward women in April titled "Communication tools for women leaders." Demand for the sold-out event was strong, as was the feedback received by those who attended, said Bev Jorgensen, the Chamber's vice president of corporate and member relations.
"One of my goals for the Chamber, and it's due largely in part to feedback I've received consistently over the years, is create a group that is geared toward women in business," Jorgensen said. "I think the results of this survey suggest that this continues to be something that a majority of women business owners would benefit from."
The Carlsbad Chamber of Commerce sent out a survey to get a pulse on the women-owned businesses among its membership and ask their thoughts on the state of the economy and where they see their businesses headed in 2015.
A majority of survey respondents, a combined total of 81 percent, said their business is either on target or above target, with nearly 40 percent reporting that this year their company is above target. Almost 63 percent or those who responded to the Chamber survey said they expect to hire additional employees during the remainder of 2014 or in the following year. Of those, 54 percent said they expect to hire both full-time and part-time employees, while 34 percent said they anticipate hiring only part-time employees and 11 percent indicated they intend to hire only full time employees.
When asked how they feel about the state of the current economy, 38 percent said it's normal and 22 percent said it's strong. 38 percent said the economy is weak. In the Chamber's 2013 survey, 47 percent of respondents said the economy was weak and only 6 percent or responders categorized the economy as "strong."
The majority of survey respondents, 81 percent, were small businesses, with fewer than 15 employees. Medium sized businesses, those who have between 16-99 employees, accounted for nearly 17 percent of the respondents and the remaining percentage, about 2 percent, responded on behalf of larger businesses, with more than 99 employees.
The respondents were spread among a wide range of industries: 40 percent were in the professional services category; 11 percent in retail; 6 percent in sales and marketing and in nonprofit organizations; and 2 percent identified as hospitality and manufacturing (34 percent checked off "other"). Almost 37 percent identified themselves as home-based.
Due partly to the results of last year's survey, the Carlsbad Chamber of Commerce held a seminar geared toward women in April titled "Communication tools for women leaders." Demand for the sold-out event was strong, as was the feedback received by those who attended, said Bev Jorgensen, the Chamber's vice president of corporate and member relations.
"One of my goals for the Chamber, and it's due largely in part to feedback I've received consistently over the years, is create a group that is geared toward women in business," Jorgensen said. "I think the results of this survey suggest that this continues to be something that a majority of women business owners would benefit from."