Since 2007 Siena College Research Institute (SCRI) has been conducting an annual survey of Upstate New York Business Leaders. The Business Leaders Study measures the perceptions that business leaders have of the current and future business conditions for Upstate New York including: business leaders’ confidence, expectations for revenues, profits, labor force and challenges for the year ahead.
View the data and analysis from each year’s study below.
2020
2019
2018
2017
2016
2015
2014
2013
2012
2011
2010
2009
2008
2020
2020 Study
- 80% CEOs Say Economic Conditions Worsened Since COVID; Only 40% Predict Improvement in 2021
- Virus Has Increased Costs, Decreased Revenue, Profits & Demand
- 37% Expect to Emerge from Pandemic Stronger & Positioned for Success; CEOs Give Government Low Grades, Call for Tax & Regulation Relief
2019
2019 Study
- Upstate CEO’s Grow More Pessimistic but Don’t Expect Recession in 2020
- Business Leaders Have Scant Confidence in NYS Government’s Support as Optimism about Federal Help Declines
- Concerns Include Government Regulation, Health Care Costs, Workforce Suitability, Despite Challenges, 41% Expect Increasing Revenues, 34% Growing Profits
2018
2018 Study
- Overall CEO Confidence Slips as Future Expectations Fall
Revenue & Profits Predicted to Drop Slightly; Hiring Holds at 37%; Fixed Asset Acquisitions Targeted to Increase - Business Leaders Say Health Care Costs, Regulation Hurt Bottom Line; Growing Number Now Confident
- Federal Govt. Will Improve Business Climate; Pluralities Say Health of National Economy, Business Taxes on Right Track
- Half of CEO’s Aware of Disruptive Technologies; 73% See as Opportunity but Aside from Internet and Cloud, Adoption Slow
2017
2017 Study
- CEO Confidence Up; Cap Region Hits 10-Year High, Buffalo, Syracuse Rise Sharply, Rochester Unchanged
Across Upstate Expect Increasing Revenues, Profits & Hiring - Business Leaders Say Health Care Costs, Regulation Hurt Bottom Line; Growing Number Now Confident Federal Govt. Will Improve Economy
- 64% Expect to be in Business in NY in Ten Years; 21% Predict Better Business Climate in Decade to Come, 35% Expect Worsening
2016
2016 Study
- CEO Confidence Drops across Upstate
- Cap Reg Most Upbeat; Buffalo, Rochester, Syracuse all Below Breakeven Point
- Business Leaders Say Obamacare, Gov’t Regulation Hurt Bottom Line; Have Little Confidence in Local Government, Albany, Less in D.C.
- Call for Tax Reforms, Infrastructure; Strongly Oppose $15 Minimum Wage
2015
2015 Study
- CEO Confidence Hits Eight Year High
- Predict Increasing Revenues, Profits, Asset Acquisitions & Hiring
- Business Leaders Say Obamacare, Gov’t Regulation Hurt Bottom Line; Have Little Confidence in Albany, Less in D.C.
- Support Infrastructure Development Especially Bridges and Roads
2014
2014 Study
- CEO Confidence Up; Cautiously Optimistic on Revenue, Profit Growth; Capital Region Strongest Region
- Half See Ample Supply of Trained Local Workers; Most Give Poor Grades to Job Applicants
- Business Leaders Worry about Health Care Costs, Gov Regulation; Have Little Confidence in Albany, Less in D.C.
- 34% Support Tax-Free NY Plan; 2/3rds Dread Obamacare
2013
2013 Study
6th Annual Upstate NY Study
- Business leader confidence fallen since last year; more negative for the first time in three years
- CEO’s frustrated with the economy; anticipate declining revenues and profitability in 2013
- Lack confidence in New York’s political leaders to help in creating a business climate where they can succeed
4th Annual Pennsylvania Business Leaders Study
- Read the executive summary and crosstabs
2nd Annual Connecticut/Massacusetts Business Leaders Study
- Read the executive summary and crosstabs
2012
2012 Study
5th Annual Upstate NY Study
- CEO confidence remains stable
- After two years of sizable increases, confidence flat among New York’s CEO’s
- Signals of a stalled economic recovery
- Business Leaders predict 2012 will look like 2011
3rd Annual Pennsylvania Business Leaders Study
- Read the report and data
1st Annual Connecticut/Massachusetts Business Leaders Study
- Read the report and data
2011
2011 Study
4th Annual Upstate NY Study
- Growing number of CEO's say they survived economic downturn
- Overall confidence up 12 points from last year
2nd Annual Pennsylvania Business Leaders Study
- Read the report and data
2010
2010 Study
3rd Annual Upstate NY Study
- CEO's remain concerned and cautious
- Growing number of CEO's see bright future
- Majority more optimistic and expect 2010 to be better year
1st Annual Pennsylvania Business Leaders Study
- Read the report and data
2009
2009 Study
- Business conditions worse in NYS than they were 6 months ago
- 72% of CEO's expect economic conditions to worsen
- Overall business leader confidence down significantly
2008
2008 Study
- Majority of business leaders say the business climate in NY is worse than it was six months ago
- Slight majority predict increased revenues in coming year
- Taxation and energy costs are business leaders' biggest challenges