More than half of Alabama’s small and mid-sized business owners will require employees to get the COVID-19 vaccination, according to a new PNC Alabama Small Business Survey.
About 57% of those surveyed will require the vaccines, and 28% will provide education or assistance surrounding the vaccines.
Other findings from the spring 2021 survey include:
- 68% of respondents reported significant business challenges.
- 38% said they can only continue to operate up to a year in current economic conditions.
- 51% received Paycheck Protection Program funding in 2020.
- 5% of respondents thought the recent shifts toward working from home will be long-lasting.
- 58% reported increased use of one or more technologies since the pandemic began.
“The spring 2021 results show that while a significant number of Alabama’s small and medium-sized business owners in the market have faced challenges to stay open, the majority of respondents believe an increase in the pace of vaccinations and anticipated fiscal stimulus will allow for more economic activity in the year ahead,” says Abbey Omodunbi, PNC economist for Alabama. “Longer-term, Alabama’s economic growth will likely improve as the U.S. economy expands, but performance will vary widely across the state as business owners continue to face pricing and hiring challenges.”
