State Business Confidence Index Nears 3-Year High

BOSTON — A new report shows local businesses are growing increasingly confident about the state of the economy.

The Associated Industries of Massachusetts says its Business Confidence Index rose in March, nearing a three-year high. But the report also says businesses are having trouble hiring.

Andre Mayer, Senior Vice President of Communications & Research at AIM, says many businesses continue to struggle to add jobs due to a lack of skilled workers.

"There are people who didn't have the skills to begin with and then there are people who may have been out of work for extended periods now," Mayer said. "And while they may be skilled workers in terms of their backgrounds, they're skills may be out of date."

Mayer says many people seeking work are less willing to take jobs that pay less than their previous one.

"Many smaller businesses in the services sector complain that applicants feel they are doing better on unemployment for the time being," Mayer said.