Govt Policies Are Biggest Challenge for 24 Percent of Small Businesses

August 14, 2018: Gallup reports that small business optimism is at the highest level measured in the 15 year history of the Wells Fargo/Gallup Small Business Index. Seventy-eight percent report their current situation as somewhat or very good.

Thirty-five percent expect hiring to increase over the coming year.

Yet, there are always concerns. Gallup reports that the biggest category of worries revolves around government policies. In response to an open-ended question, 24 percent, cited some sort of policy concern: 9 percent cited taxes, 6 percent regulation, 6 percent government in general, and 3 percent trade war or tariff concerns.

Eighteen percent said their biggest concern is the ability to hire and retain good workers.

Other concerns were business financial matters (15 percent), marketplace issues (13 percent), personal issues (6 percent), healthcare (3 percent) and President Trump (2 percent).

Each weekday, Scott Rasmussen’s Number of the Day explores interesting and newsworthy topics at the intersection of culture, politics, and technology. Columns published on Ballotpedia reflect the views of the author.

Scott Rasmussen is founder and president of the Rasmussen Media Group. He is the author of "Mad as Hell: How the Tea Party Movement Is Fundamentally Remaking Our Two-Party System," "In Search of Self-Governance," and "The People’s Money: How Voters Will Balance the Budget and Eliminate the Federal Debt." Read more reports from Scott Rasmussen — Click Here Now.