wbjournal.com | December 29, 2025 | Worcester Business Journal 11
What's the biggest impediment to business
growth in Massachusetts?
Do you think the Central Massachusetts economy
is in better or worse condition than when it was at
this time last year?
Other answers:
• "People not wanting to work"
• "Cost of financing (interest rates)"
• "High cost of utilities"
• "Lack of decent affordable health care"
Do you anticipate any change in your use of office space
in the next year or when your lease expires?
How have the new federal
tariffs implemented this year
impacted your business?
Net negative
54%
No impact
40%
Net positive
6%
We plan no
changes in
our office
space needs.
We own our
building, so it's
not a variable
for us.
We plan
reducing our
office space
when our lease
comes up.
We plan an
expansion
of our office
space.
2023 2022 2024
Economic Forecast 2026
2023 2022 2021 2020
Better Worse Not sure
0
20%
40%
60%
80%
100%
70%
19%
2024 2025
52%
42%
6%
36%
56%
8%
46%
42%
12%
76%
19%
5%
6%
89%
5%
11%
High cost of operating
in the state
Lack of affordable
housing
Lack of available
workforce
High taxes
Other
Overly aggressive or
slow regulation
27%
25%
22%
18%
5%
3%
41%
21%
15%
11%
7%
5%
2023 2024 2025
Tariffs
NA
NA
5%
8%
10%
13%
16%
41%
7%
2025
6%
4%
14%
9%
14%
10%
16%
16%
37%
41%
17%
27%
40%
41%
53%
48%
Other answers:
• "Move to a different location"
• "Work remotely now - no change"
• "We own the buildings and lease
some. We are considering consolidation
where leases come up."
