Competitiveness Survey--Help California Understand What You Need To Grow

California competitiveness issues burden our manufacturing industry and they remain a key motive for corporations siting their facilities and growth in other states. We've lost 34% of our manufacturing job base in the last decade and we rank among the worst in recent manufacturing growth. Our policymakers and regulators try but have little understanding of what it takes to compete and make a product in this state.

With your answers to this survey, people working on our economic recovery can have an ongoing priorities list for the state's manufacturing industry? But it only works if a large portion of California's manufacturers respond. So please take five minutes to answer this 20-question survey. Send it to your suppliers too!

The results will be aggregated. Your personal and company information will NEVER be used. After you respond once, you will be able to return and change your responses as your manufacturing situation changes.

The data points (again, no name or company) will be used regularly with our legislature and media as a barometer of our state's manufacturing competitiveness.

In the past 12 months has your ability to manufacture in CA improved, stayed the same or worsened?

Improved
Stayed the same
Worsened

Rank the top three attributes that help you maintain operations in California:

First
Second
Third
 
Great location to reach customers and access suppliers
Highly skilled technical workforce
Access to college graduates
Competitive costs of doing business
Effective and fair regulatory climate
High quality of life
State's environmental policies
Difficult to relocate to other states or countries
None or reason not listed. Explain below:

Will the attributes you selected above encourage you to make new investments and/or hire workers in California despite challenging state-specific laws and regulations?

Yes
No
Maybe

Rank the top three conditions that discourage you from retaining/adding employees, or making new investments in California

Only the first option is required.
First
Second
Third
 
Risk of litigation for disciplining or firing low-performing employees
Length of time or cost to obtain permit or license
Cost of labor (not including workers compensation)
Costs of insurance (including workers compensation)
Availability of skilled workers
Availability of college graduates
Electricity costs
State income or corporate taxes
Sales tax on equipment purchases
Possibility of future California laws or regulations that add excessive cost
None or reason not listed. Explain below:

How will these laws and regulations impact your future decisions to make investments or keep workers in California:

Wage and hour overtime laws

Very harmful
Somewhat harmful
No effect or don't know
Somewhat helpful
Very helpful

California Minimum Wage law

Very harmful
Somewhat harmful
No effect or don't know
Somewhat helpful
Very helpful

Meal period law

Very harmful
Somewhat harmful
No effect or don't know
Somewhat helpful
Very helpful

Workers compensation

Very harmful
Somewhat harmful
No effect or don't know
Somewhat helpful
Very helpful

California Family Rights Act (California medical leave law)

Very harmful
Somewhat harmful
No effect or don't know
Somewhat helpful
Very helpful

Proposition 65 requirements

Very harmful
Somewhat harmful
No effect or don't know
Somewhat helpful
Very helpful

Land use regulations, including California Environmental Quality Act requirements

Very harmful
Somewhat harmful
No effect or don't know
Somewhat helpful
Very helpful

OptionalA regulation, law or fee that applies to my California operation but not to competitors in other states:

Explain here:
Very harmful
Somewhat harmful
Somewhat helpful
Very helpful
Reset buttons

Elaborate further on challenges and opportunities operating in California:

Optional
Your information will remain confidential.

Your Name
Your Email
Company name
Manufacturing class (NAICS)
Facility ZIP Code
Facility ZIP Code
if additional facility in Calif.
Facility ZIP Code
if additional facility in CA
Calif. employees today
Years doing business in Calif

How has your California workforce changed in the last year?

Growth:   less than 4.9%   5 to 10%   More than 10%
No change:
Decline:   less than 4.9%   5 to 10%   More than 10%

Do you plan to grow your employment by more than 10% in California in the next five years?

Yes
No
Maybe

Do you compete against companies with facilities outside of California?

Yes
No
Don't know

Does your company have additional facilities in U.S. states other than California?

Yes
No

If you were not already in California, would you consider locating a new business here?

Yes
No

Optional: Click here to answer nine additional questions on specific regulations. Otherwise, click the "submit" button below.