Statewide Results BUSINESS IMPEDIMENTS Health care and energy costs are off the chart. Government regulation is not far behind.   Health care costs by far the major impediment.       88% very (71%) or somewhat significant (17%)   Traditional issue, energy, is the second major impediment.       81% very (49%) or somewhat significant (32%)       Government regulation a surprise as the third major impediment.       65% very  (35%) or somewhat significant (30%)   Health Energy Gov't Regs Taxes Work-force Hous-ing MKT Demand Rent Financ-ing Trans-port Land Very Significant 71% 49% 35% 33% 24% 24% 22% 22% 19% 13% 10% Somewhat Significent 17% 32% 30% 21% 31% 22% 23% 26% 19% 21% 11% Not Very Significant 2% 6% 10% 9% 13% 12% 11% 9% 18% 16% 15% Not At All Significant 9% 13% 24% 36% 33% 41% 44% 43% 43% 50% 64%   Health care costs are by far the most significant impediment to growth. 88% of CEO's cite health care costs as a "very significant" (71%) or "somewhat significant" (17%) impediment to business expansion. While this is probably true nationwide, the high cost of heath care in Massachusetts has contributed to making health care costs the number one business impediment across regions and sectors in terms of intensity. The more traditional dominant impediment issue, energy, was cited next at 81% but only 49% said it was "very significant" with 32% saying it was "somewhat significant". The survey was taken before the recent run up in oil prices so this may have changed over the past few months but not such that it would replace health care as the number one most intense impediment. Surprisingly government regulation was cited as the third most significant impediment with 65% saying it was "very significant" (35%) or "somewhat significant" (30%). Lack of available work force and taxes were cited next at 55% and 54% respectively with affordable housing mentioned as an impediment by 46%. Questions "How significant, if at all, is each impediment to your business expansion?" (Read and Rotate) Health care costs Energy costs Government regulations Lack of available workforce High taxes Rent costs Availability of affordable housing Lack of adequate demand Availablility of financing Employee transportation Lack of available land Survey methodology Survey instrument Polling links PRINT COLOR: Business Impediments PRINT B & W  : Business Impediments