(May 10, 2004) The California Chamber of Commerce released the results of its annual opinion poll at this year’s Business Legislative Summit last week.

The results show a growing optimism about California’s economy and business conditions, a massive shift from views just 12 months ago.

View opinion poll results

“The election of Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger and his pro-jobs agenda has clearly spurred an optimism in California’s employers and business leaders,” said Allan Zaremberg, president, California Chamber of Commerce.  “The legislature should look carefully at these poll results.  If we continue on this job creation path and stop considering policies that will only hurt California’s business climate, we can continue to reinvigorate California’s economy, and create additional general fund revenues to fund essential programs such as public safety and education.”

Key findings from the opinion poll include:

• 67 percent of respondents feel that things in California are generally going in the right direction, compared to only five percent in last year’s poll;
• 61 percent of respondents believe the state’s economy will improve in the next six months, versus 13 percent of respondents from last year;
• Comparing business conditions in California to two years ago, 27 percent believe they are better and 44 percent worse compared to only one percent better and 90 percent worse in last year’s poll;
• Employers planning to expand their workforce grew over 11 percent since last year, with employers planning layoffs or cutbacks declining 15 percent;
• The biggest concern of respondents given that the Governor recently signed a workers’ comp reform bill is health care costs, with over 40 percent of respondents citing health care costs as their chief concern.

The 2004 Legislative Summit Opinion Poll was offered on-line to registrants of the Chamber’s annual Business Legislative Summit held in Sacramento May 4.  Nearly 800 business leaders from throughout California were in attendance.

For more information about the annual Business Legislative Summit or to view opinion poll results, please visit the website at www.calchamber.com.

Staff Contact: Sara Lee