Business confidence returns to Naples

Business confidence seems to have returned to Collier County, judging by a recent survey of executives by Hodges University.

The survey says 36% of Collier County businesses plan to hire more people over the next year, reflecting the fact that 77% of survey respondents say they expect economic conditions in the county to improve in the next 12 months.

Tellingly, one of the industries expecting growth is construction, one of the major pillars of the local economy. Health care and retail executives also expect to increase investment moderately or substantially over the next year.

For now, labor shortages don't seem to be a problem. Most businesses surveyed say they haven't experienced any problems finding qualified job candidates.

When you combine the survey with recent reports on employment, retail sales and housing permits, it paints a positive picture that we haven't seen for years.