washington business
Employers Face Storm of Challenges all at Once , Surveys Show
The number of major concerns cited by Washington employers is rising .
Andrew Lenderman
AWB surveyed employers four times over the past year . At first , just two issues were listed by more than 50 % of respondents as serious concerns . Now there are five issues cited by more than half of respondents . Inflation , the workforce shortage and supply chain disruptions currently top the list .
At A Glance
Inflation is clearly the No . 1 concern of Washington employers this year .
Many employers list several challenges all at once , compared to just a few the year before .
These challenges highlight the need for tax and regulatory relief .
Everything everywhere all at once isn ’ t just a sci-fi movie . For Washington employers , this is how the last few years have felt navigating a once-in-a-century pandemic followed by a series of major challenges .
A look back at AWB ’ s employer surveys over the past year shows a steady increase in the number of issues employers identify as serious concerns . At first , just two issues caused widespread concern — a shortage of qualified workers and government regulation .
Now there are five : inflation ; a lack of qualified workers ; supply chain disruptions ; government regulations ; and the overall tax burden .
“ Washington employers led us out of the pandemic and into a strong economic recovery ,” AWB President Kris Johnson says . “ Now they face several major challenges all at once . Each of these challenges are difficult in their own right , and together , they create a perfect storm unlike anything we ’ ve seen in many years .” fall 2022 43