Statewide Results HIRING AND INVESTMENT PLANS New hiring likely, slight upswing in technology and equipment purchases   Significant net gain in hiring likely       37% increase employment   7% decrease employment June 2005  Mass Economic Assessment and Analysis Project Conducted by the University of Massachusetts Lowell Poll   Slight gain in computer and information technology purchases       35% more than last year    24% less than last year   Slight gain in capital equipment other than computers and information        technology      32% more than last year    37% less than last year June 2005  Mass Economic Assessment and Analysis Project Conducted by the University of Massachusetts Lowell Poll While 37% of CEO's plan to increase employment over the next three months with only 8% planning to decrease employment, technology and equipment purchases do not show the same kind of strength. Over the next year, investment in computer technology and other capital equipment is up only slightly, 35% plan to increase such purchases while 24% plan to decrease them. It appears businesses are much more likely to hire than purchase equipment yet both indicators indicated an increase in economic activity. Questions "In the next three months, is it more likely that you will increase, not change, or decrease the number of employees in your organization?" "How much do you plan to invest in computer and information technology in the coming year?" "How much do you plan to invest in new capital equipment other than computers and information technology in the coming year?" Survey methodology Survey instrument Polling links PRINT COLOR: Hiring and Investment Plans PRINT B & W  : Hiring and Investment Plans