Are Things Generally Headed In The Right Direction

1
Are Things Generally Headed In The Right
Direction?
An increase in confidence when comparing to 2004
results
2
Economy/Jobs Issues Q. Single most important
issues facing MS Today
Businesses Citizens Educatio
n 52.5 Workforce Training 23 26.5
Economy 31 15.1 Social
Issues 29.7 4.9 Government
Services/Taxes 8.3 1.3
Miscellaneous 1.0
Verbatim responses coded into categories
3
Mississippi - A place to live, work and raise a
family
Both Business Leaders and Citizens feel that
compared to most of the United States,
Mississippi is a better place to live, work, and
raise a family.
4
How Does Mississippi Compare To Other Southern
States As A Place To Operate A Business?
5
Outlook For Mississippi Economy
An increase in confidence for Mississippis
outlook for the economy from Business Leaders as
well as Citizens.
6
Business Growth Indicators Compared To One Year
Ago Profitability and Employees
Fewer Full-TimeEmployees13
MoreProfitable46
MoreFull-TimeEmployees25
Less Profitable16
Same Number Full-TimeEmployees62
No Changein Profitability35
Profitability
Employees
7
Profitability of BusinessContinuing To Be More
Profitable

• Compared to the previous year, is your business

8
Mississippi Employment Continuing to Have More
Employees

• Compared to the previous year, what is your
  employment situation?

9
Biggest Business Challenges

• Shortage of quality workers 40.0
• Foreign competition 5.6
• Beating the competition 5.2
• Making a profit/rising cost 4.9
• Cost/availability of property insurance 3.6
• Government regulations 3.0
• Cost of health care 3.0
• Attracting new business/industries 3.0
• Increasing sales 3.0
• Cost of fuel 2.3

10
Most Problematic Business Tax

• Property Tax 25.9
• Corporate Tax 20.3
• Inventory Tax 20.3
• Sales Tax 8.9
• Income Tax 3.9

11
Mississippi Workforce Availability

• More than half believe the states workforce
  availability is as good as or better than other
  Southern States
• About the same or better 52
• Worse 38
• Dont know 4

12
Mississippi Workforce Development and Training
Program

• About two-thirds believe the states workforce
  training development and training programs have
  improved
• Moderately or Significantly improved 63
• Remained about the same 25
• Gotten worse 7
• Dont know 4

13
Future Investing Priorities for the State of
Mississippi First Priority
Q Thinking of priorities for investing in the
future of the state, which one of the following
programs is most important (read all options)
14
Future Investing Priorities for the State of
Mississippi Second Priority
Q Thinking of priorities for investing in the
future of the state, which one of the following
programs is second most important?
15
Early Childhood Education - Importance
Both businesses and citizens place a very high
priority on early childhood education as it
relates to the success of our children when they
enter the school system
16
Early Childhood Education - Methods
Less than half believe early childhood education
should be part of the public school system
17
Education Issues Problem in Schools
Q What do you think is the number one problem in
our schools today?
18
Education Challenges
19
Education Superintendents Election
20
Education School District Consolidation
21
Education Drop out rates awareness campaign
Currently, the dropout rate in Mississippi is
35. Would a public awareness campaign help
reduce the dropout rate?