(The Center Square) – New polls show business owners and residents alike are worried that Washington state’s economy is heading in the wrong direction.
The annual Crosscut/Elway poll, conducted by Cascade Media Group, said that the economy as the most frequently answer given when asked what issue state legislators should focus on for their 2022 session.
Some 32% of the 400 registered voters said the economy, followed by COVID-19 at 23% and social services at 21%. Other topics included taxes, public safety, education and the environment.
Cascade reports that 52% of respondents a year ago said dealing with the coronavirus should be the top issue, and that this is the first time since 2014 that the economy was the most common response.
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Click for more informationThe survey also found that 60% of voters have a negative view of Gov. Jay Inslee’s performance.
Some 52% of respondents said they favor government mandates that people wear face masks and show proof of being vaccinated in order to enter restaurants and other businesses.
On the question of a federal mandate requiring private businesses to require their employees to get vaccinated, 52% were opposed.
The U.S. Supreme Court voted 6-3 Thursday in favor of a temporary stay against just such a proposal from President Joe Biden.
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Click for more informationA poll conducted by the Association of Washington Business (AWB) found that 52% of owners think the state is “definitely” headed in the wrong direction and another 21% believe the state is “probably” headed in the wrong direction.
Only 21% said the state is “definitely” or “probably” headed in the right direction.
AWB received responses from 401 employers of various sizes.
“The majority of employers that support Washington’s economy and quality of like say our state is simply headed in the wrong direction,” AWB President Kris Johnson said in a statement. “Last session, we asked legislators to ‘do no harm’ to employers who were struggling to survive the pandemic. Lawmakers ended up passing a capital gains tax and other legislation that will raise costs for all employers. This year, as they enter a new legislative session with more than $8 billion in reserve, legislators have another opportunity to be champions for the economy and provide some help for employers, particularly small businesses.”
AWB also found that 68% of employers say government regulations are their biggest challenge, followed by a lack of qualified workers at 65% and the overall tax burden at 52%.
When asked what skill level of jobs they have the most difficulty filling, 35% said entry level and mid-level. Only 25% said they do not have hiring challenges.
Thank you for this info. Very encouraging to me that there are people not agreeing with where this state is going. I recently took a road trip in Western Was. And was shocked to see how much garbage on the side of the hwy. And potholes so large in the city, my car could have gotten lost in them. I was once very proud how our state stacked up against roads, etc on East coast. Just heartbreaking now.
This is encouraging people are paying attention. We are in a state of decay. Current leadership is not able to rectify it.
Mandates are killing our State! In one year we went from number 5 in US to 35 in just one year for places to live ! This is all on Jay Inslee! He is slowly killing WASHINGTON STATE!!! He needs to be IMPEACHED. There are no term limits on Governor?????
For decades our Gov position went back and forth DEM to GOP, back and forth…then in the 80’s it went DEM and has stayed ever since. I am old enough to know we did not like a couple of those Governors. And they also were ‘re-elected’. Now we can’t even recall the dictator unless the AG agrees to allow us to petition a recall. We the voters need permission?? Our only hope is to go thru the canvasing other states are. I just received my August Primary Ballot in the mail in January! Right here in Whatcom county…Let’s Go Brandon and Jay.