covid-19: state of small business › ... › your-voice-january-survey-key-results.pdf · 2...

COVID-19: State of Small Business

Key results – January 2021 Survey

2021-01-22

Overview: CFIB surveys since mid-March

2

Previous surveys

CFIB has surveyed members on the impacts of COVID-19

from the start of the pandemic (15 weekly surveys from

mid March to early July, avg. n = 9,020)

Moved towards biweekly surveys last summer (4 surveys

from mid July to end of August, avg. n = 5,249), then

monthly surveys in the fall (5 surveys from end of August

to present, avg. n = 6,490)

Current plan is to continue conducting monthly member

surveys with key data on current business conditions

through the Your Voice monthly survey

The monthly Business Barometer was conducted bi-

monthly from March to May, then monthly afterwards

Survey data featured this month

Survey: Business Barometer(January 2021)

Your Voice –January 2021

Active dates: Jan. 11-TBD Jan. 12-29

Reminder

email:

-- Jan. 19

Active days: 12 11

Respondents: 1,200 4,701

3

As of today, is your business still open?(% response)

36

20

69

47

32

50

29

40

21

31

1

1111

12

March 27-

April 2

April

10-16

April

24-30

May

8-14

May

22-28

June

6-11

June

19-25

July

3-9

July

17-30

August

13-26

Sept. 24-

Oct. 21

Oct. 22-

Nov.18

Nov.20-

Dec. 11

Jan. 12-

TBD

Yes we are fully open

Yes, partially open due

to COVID-19

No, fully closed due to

COVID-19

No, fully (or partially)

closed due to reasons

not related to COVID-19

Source: CFIB, COVID-19 surveys – March 2020 to January 2021, full details at https://www.cfib-fcei.ca/en/covid-19-surveys

https://www.cfib-fcei.ca/en/covid-19-surveys

4

72

68

66

66

65

60

52

52

50

47

45

36

18

10

Transportation

Manufacturing

Construction

Prof. Services

Wholesale

Agriculture

Pers./Misc. Services

Soc. Services

Fin. Ins. etc.

National

Ent. & Admin. Mgmt.

Retail

Arts, Rec. & Info.

Hospitality

76

65

64

64

60

50

47

45

44

37

SK

NS

NB

BC

AB

NL

CA

MB

QC

ON

% change

since last month

-6

-13

-18

-8

-12

-12

-23

-12

-20

-18

-14

-29

-11

-15

0

-7

-5

-2

-7

-23

-18

-5

-26

-25

% change

since last month

Source: CFIB, Your Voice – January 2021 Survey, Jan. 12-TBD, 2021, preliminary results, n = 4,105.

Businesses fully open, by sector and province (% response)

5

32

44

36

29

36

28

35

16

June

19-25

July

3-16

July

17-30

July 31 -

Aug. 13

Aug.

13-26

Aug. 27-

Sept. 23

Sept. 24-

Oct. 21

Oct. 22-

Nov.18

Nov.20-

Dec. 11

Jan. 12-

TBD

Normal or more than

normal staffing

(95%+)

More than half of

normal staffing

(51% to 94%)

Up to half of normal

staffing

(50% or less)

Source: CFIB, COVID-19 surveys – June 2020 to January 2021, full details at https://www.cfib-fcei.ca/en/covid-19-surveysNote: Percentages may not add to 100% due to exclusion of ‘Not applicable – no staff at this time’ and ‘Don’t know’ categories.

How much of your usual staffing capacity for this time of year is your business currently using? (% response)


6

57

45

3237373733333030

3

4

93324332

60

49

4140403937363332

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

NSSKNBBCMBABNLCAQCON

More staffing than usual (106% and over) About the usual for this time of year (95%-105%)

53514545444640

323331302614

8

234341

273314

11

555449484847

423936343130

159

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

AgricultureFin. Ins. etc.ManufacturingConstructionProf. ServicesWholesaleTransportationSoc. ServicesNationalRetailPers./Misc.

Services

Ent. & Admin.

Mgmt.

Arts, Rec. &

Info.

Hospitality

Normal or above normal staffing, by province and sector(% response)


7

34

46

17

30

22

46

23

37

June

6-11

June

19-28

July

3-16

July

17-30

July 31-

Aug. 13

Aug.

13-26

Aug. 27-

Sept. 23

Sept. 24-

Oct. 21

Oct. 22-

Nov.18

Nov.20-

Dec. 11

Jan. 12-

TBD

More than half of

normal revenues

(51% to 94%)

Normal or better than

normal revenues

(95%+)

Up to half of normal

revenues

( 50% and less)

How much of your usual revenues for this time of year is your business currently making?(% response)

Source: CFIB, COVID-19 surveys – June 2020 to January 2021, full details at https://www.cfib-fcei.ca/en/covid-19-surveysNote: Percentages may not add to 100% due to exclusion of ‘Not applicable – did not have revenues at this time in previous years’ and ‘Don’t know’ categories.


4234

27242323162017151611

44

5

24775

735532

22

47

3631313028

232322201913

66

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

AgricultureFin. Ins. etc.ConstructionWholesaleManufacturingProf. ServicesRetailTransportationNationalEnt. & Admin.

Mgmt.

Soc. ServicesPers./Misc.

Services

HospitalityArts, Rec. &

Info.

8

302320

28211920171614

6

69665

553

36

2929282725252221

17

-5

5

15

25

35

45

NSBCMBNLSKNBQCCAABON

Better revenues than usual (106% and over) About the usual revenues for this time of year (95%-105%)

Normal or better revenues, by province and sector (% response)


9

What worries you most about COVID-19? (Select all that apply, % response)

70

58

56

53

52

51

45

41

34

34

28

9

7

2

0

Economic repercussions

Business cash flow

Consumer spending will be reduced, even following COVID-19

Physical health impacts

Overwhelming stress

Debt

Staffing

Access to enough government support for my business/workers

Business logistics

Access to any/enough income as a self-employed worker

Having to close my business permanently

Access to personal protective equipment for our business

Other

No concerns at this moment

Don’t know/Unsure

Change from last

survey

Most concerned sector

this week

+4 Ent. Admin. Mgmt. (+8)

+6 Hospitality (+16)

+1 Retail (+10)

-2 Soc. Services (+9)

-1 Hospitality (+15)

+5 Arts & Rec. (+18)



+1 Retail (+17)



-3 Soc. Services (+6)

= 0 Prof. Services (+5)

= 0 Agriculture (+2)

= 0 Agriculture (+2)

Source: CFIB, Your Voice – January 2021 Survey, Jan. 12-TBD, 2021, preliminary results, n = 4,694.Notes: 1) The answer choices displayed here have been simplified. See appendix for the complete answer choices.

2) Respondents were allowed to select more than one answer choice. Percentages will not add to 100%.

10

42

46

47

43

49

59

47

52

51

69

26

24

26

32

26

17

30

26

29

20

68

70

73

75

75

76

77

78

80

89

QC

NB

BC

SK

CA

NS

MB

ON

AB

NL

“2020 was the most difficult year ever for our business” (% response)

18

29

35

40

50

46

40

45

49

46

54

70

72

77

34

34

33

30

22

26

32

28

26

30

26

17

15

16

52

63

68

70

72

72

72

73

75

76

80

87

87

93

Agriculture

Construction

Manufacturing

Wholesale

Ent. & Admin. Mgmt.

Transportation

Fin. Ins. etc.

Prof. Services

National

Retail


Soc. Services

Arts, Rec. & Info.

Hospitality

Strongly agree

Somewhat agree


11

English French

What three words would you use to describe 2020for your business?

Source: CFIB, Your Voice – January 2021 Survey, Jan. 12-TBD, 2021, preliminary results.

12

English French

Source: CFIB, Your Voice – January 2021 Survey, Jan. 12-TBD, 2021, preliminary results.

What three words would best describe how you feel about 2021?

13

7

10

11

8

7

8

13

22

10

12

52

40

We are actively considering bankruptcy/winding down our business as a

result of COVID-19

Our business will have a smaller physical footprint (less square footage

owned/leased) in 2021

Strongly agree Somewhat agree Don’t know/Unsure Not applicable Somewhat disagree Strongly disagree

Source: CFIB, Your Voice – January 2021 Survey, Jan. 12-TBD, 2021, preliminary results, n = 4,281, n = 4,268.

Difficult decisions ahead(% response)

14

Link to full research report: https://www.cfib-fcei.ca/en/media/news-releases/181000-canadian-small-business-owners-now-contemplating-pulling-plug-putting-24

New Research Released This Week

https://www.cfib-fcei.ca/en/media/news-releases/181000-canadian-small-business-owners-now-contemplating-pulling-plug-putting-24

15

Yes

40

No

56

Don't

know/Unsure

4

61545152

3832

2332

3934

4945

4040

292323202016

ONQCCAMBABNBSKNSNLBC

*Not fully open

Activities limited by 50% or more

8376

63

475153

4850

303534

282432

7870

524140

342928

212017171615

Source: CFIB, Your Voice – January 2021 Survey, Jan. 12-TBD, 2021, preliminary results, n = 4,676, *n = 4,105.Note: *Includes percentage of businesses that indicated they are partially open or fully closed due to COVID-19.

As of today, is your business under government lockdown or restrictions limiting its activities by 50% or more? (% response)

They should be

strengthened to focus

on the health

emergency

22

The current balance

is about right

26

They should be less restrictive

to allow more businesses to

reopen

43

Don't

know/Unsure

9

16

38

39

39

40

40

40

42

42

43

43

46

46

47

49

Prof. Services

Manufacturing

Ent. & Admin. Mgmt.

Wholesale

Soc. Services

Arts, Rec. & Info.

Retail

Hospitality

National

Transportation


Fin. Ins. etc.

Construction

Agriculture

67

66

43

43

42

39

33

23

23

14

AB

MB

SK

CA

ON

QC

BC

NB

NL

NS


Which of the following best represents your business’s views on current government lockdowns or business restrictions in your province? (% response)

17

CANADA

Our business had to lay off additional employees recently due to lockdowns

and new government restrictions

BC

AB

SK

MB

A government curfew is likely to have a significant negative impact on our business

20%

34%

39%

ON

QC

NL

NB

PE*

NSThe current government lockdowns and restrictions are hurting our business more than during the first wave of the pandemic

17%

17%

24%

21%

26%

6%

37%

39%

23%

43%

31%

37%

53%

41%

31%

55%

37%

34%

37%

25%

45%

56%

34%

46%

39%

29%

40%

48%

37%

33%

Impact of current wave of lockdowns and restrictions on small businesses

Source: CFIB, Your Voice – January 2021 Survey, Jan. 12-TBD, 2021, preliminary results, n = 4,284, n = 4,283, n = 4,241. Note*: Results for PEI are based on < 40 responses and should be interpreted with caution.

18

65

59

28

26

8

5

3

7

6

Canada Emergency Business Account (CEBA)

Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy (CEWS)

Canada Emergency Response Benefit or Canada

Recovery Benefit (CERB/CRB)

Canada Emergency Rent Subsidy (CERS)

Provincial support program

Other

Regional Relief and Recovery Fund (RRRF)

None, as I did not need/want any government

support

None, as I did not qualify

6% (thousands) of

Canadian businesses are

still falling between the

gaps in relief programs

Strongly agree

50 Somewhat

agree

21

Somewhat

disagree

11

Strongly

disagree

10Don't

know/Unsure

3

Not

applicable

5

“Government programs (like CEWS, CERS,

CEBA or provincial small business relief

programs) are crucial for our business

survival in 2021” (% response)

Source: CFIB, Your Voice – January 2021 Survey, Jan. 12-TBD, 2021, preliminary results, n = 4,485, n = 4,279.

Has your business used (or is using) any of the following government emergency support programs? (% response)

19

Appendix

20

Complete answer choices - What worries you most aboutCOVID-19? (slide 9)Economic repercussions (on provincial, national and/or global economy)

Consumer spending will be reduced, even following the COVID-19 crisis

Business cash flow (paying rent, meeting payroll, paying suppliers/mortgage/other bills, getting paid)

Physical health impacts (on myself, my staff or others)

Debt (long-term financial consequences of debt and depleted savings)

Overwhelming stress

Staffing (layoffs, retention, refusal to work)

Access to enough government support for my business/workers

Business logistics (getting and shipping products, managing inventories)

Access to any/enough income as a self-employed worker

Having to close my business permanently

Access to personal protective equipment for our business

Other (Please specify)

No concerns at this moment

Don’t know/Unsure

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