Small-business owners across the province are now the most confident in the country, according to the Canadian Federation of Independent Business.
They’re also looking to ramp up hiring. In June, 29% said they plan to increase full-time staff over the next three months, up 4% since May, according to a CFIB monthly report. Aaron Aerts, B.C. economist for the CFIB, said those looking for work might want to check the classifieds in the coming weeks.
“After a year lingering in second, third or fourth place, our province’s entrepreneurs have reclaimed the bragging rights as the most confident in Canada,” he added.
Natural resources ranked the lowest by sector, with health and education services coming in first, and finance, insurance and real estate in second.
Alberta’s still holding down the bottom of the scale, scoring 42.5 out of 100 on the CFIB’s business confidence index (an index above 50 means owners expecting their business’ performance to be stronger in the next year outnumber those expecting weaker performance.) B.C. (69.3), edged out P.E.I (68), followed by New Brunswick (64.9) and Nova Scotia (61.5). The report noted the biggest hurdle to entrepreneurial confident remains weak domestic demand and a shortage of skilled labour.
