NT Chamber of Commerce releases 2023 business confidence survey

More than 1100 business leaders are urged to have their say on every issue from workforce attraction and retention to economic sustainability in the NT. Find out how to take part.

The NT Chamber of Commerce has released its 2023 Business Confidence Survey to check the pulse of the Territory’s business community.

The first survey since 2021, its focus is on workforce, sustainability, Territory manufacturing, remote and regional areas and the impact of recent developments.

The survey gives the NT Chamber of Commerce the information it needs to advocate for members and the wider Territory business community.

Chief operating officer Nicole Walsh said survey responses help the chamber better target what businesses require.

NT Chamber of Commerce chief executive Greg Ireland. Picture: Supplied

“It gives us direction for our advocacy in our every day dealings with stakeholders like the Territory and federal governments and other key stakeholders,” she said.

“The results from the survey will allow the chamber to challenge and question future decisions, support the agenda of businesses and to drive economic development across the Territory.

“We want to get a broad view of what’s impacting on business in the Territory and there’s plenty of opportunity for businesses to focus on their major issues and points of concern.

“We haven’t wanted to lead people with our questions. We want people to tell us what their main issues and concerns are without leading them towards conclusions. We want to have a real, balanced survey.”

The chamber has more than 1100 members Territory wide.

For the first time surveys have been forwarded to representatives of the Territory’s 17 local governments, which create significant jobs and economic opportunities in the regions.

Twenty-five questions divided into eight sections, the survey begins with a snapshot of the business being surveyed before asking respondents to evaluate, on a scale of ‘very worried’ to ‘very confident’, their perception of the Territory’s economic outlook.

Respondents are asked to list the main reason for their confidence and concerns before moving onto questions about the twin developments of interest rates rises and changes by the federal government to industrial relations laws.

Business owners asked to take part in the 2023 Business Confidence Survey. Picture Supplied

Workforce issues take up all of section four, asking business operators to profile their current workforce and the measures they have gone to recruiting staff. Section five looks at business sustainability before taking a deep dive into remote and regional businesses.

Reflecting the federal government’s push to grow Australia’s manufacturing industries, section seven looks at manufacturing across the NT before finally, businesses are asked what support they would like to see in terms of programs and initiatives to grow.”

“We want all businesses, small and large, that help drive the Territory economy to take part in the survey,” Ms Walsh said.

“Its an opportunity for business owners to make very clear their priorities and the areas they want the chamber of commerce to focus on and to advocate for.”

The chamber of commerce’s business confidence survey is available at https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/5Q5SPBD