MetroWest495 Biz

MetroWest495 Biz | August 2014 13 BUSINESS CLIMATE SURVEY rison said GDP increased at a 2.6 percent annual rate in the fourth quarter of 2013, but then fell 2.9 percent in the first quarter of 2014. "We have not seen a stable or sustained rise, so this may be a contributing factor to the decreased outlook," Harrison wrote. But if area employers are reserved about econom- ic conditions due to national trends, you wouldn't necessarily know it based on their hiring plans. Harrison said it's "very good news" that nearly 32 percent of firms said they will hire new staff this year, while another 31 percent say it's possible, but too soon to tell. Harrison noted that firms that are planning to hire run the gamut, from very small operations with nine or fewer employees, to large companies with payrolls of at least 500. And while more employers (5 percent) said they plan to reduce their workforces by at least 10 percent this year, compared with none last year, Harrison noted that the majority of those reductions will happen at small businesses, mak- ing the impact to the total area workforce relatively small. "Overall, the number of reductions indicated (is) relatively small and should not significantly impact the 495/MetroWest region, if they (hold) true," Harrison wrote. Yet, Randy Waterman, president of Westbor- ough-based Waterman Design Associates, was sur- prised to learn that more small businesses indicated they plan to cut staff this year. Waterman, a survey participant, hired a civil engineer to his design firm of 14 employees last year, and may add another later this year or in early 2015. And the small-business clients he deals with are moving in the same direction as economic conditions steadily improve, Waterman said. He noted that a year ago, it was easy to find a machine operator to work on a project in a pinch. But today, more people are holding steady jobs. "I think we can clearly say that this year was better than last, which was better than the last one," Waterman said. For Gavin Livingstone, president of Bryley Sys- tems, a small Hudson-based IT services firm, hiring is already underway. Bryley will add a handful of new employees this year, as the company projects 25-percent growth in sales this year to its customers, most of whom are in Central New England. "We've had a lot of mo- mentum," Livingstone said. "When I talk to our clients, I also get that sense of cautious optimism. Particularly in this region, they feel they've got a good thing going and expect it to last." Livingstone said his manu- facturing clients, many of whom are local, are investing more in IT manage- ment since modern machines rely more heavily on computer technology. The manufacturing industry has been doing particularly well, Livingstone said, despite the fact that it's dwindled to a fraction of the size it was in its Gavin livingstone of Bryley Systems: Survey numbers are reflected in company's clients. 19% Less than 1% of current staff 55.1% 1%-5% 18.4% 6%-10% 7.5% More than 10% 30% A reduction of 1-5% 15% A reduction of 6-10% 25% A reduction of more than 10% 25% Not sure. It is too soon to tell. 5% A reduction of less than1% 19.9% Not sure. It is too soon to tell. 66.2% No. 11.5% Yes. 2.4% We plan to reduce our facilities. What level of additional hiring do you expect over the coming year? Over the course of the coming year, what is your expected workforce reduction in the 495/MetroWest region? Over the course of the next year, do you plan to expand your facilities in the 495/MetroWest region? 2. Small business a possible exception to hiring trend s page 15 Note: Only 20 people responded to this question

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