Sangamon County employers have a positive outlook about the economy. The University of Illinois Springfield Survey Research Office polls businesspeople twice a year for the Greater Springfield Chamber of Commerce.
This spring's results mark the first time since 2012 that expectations were as high. However, just over half of those responding expected employment to stay the same in the county in the next year.
The highest rated sectors include medical, information and communication systems and construction. The most negative sectors were manufacturing and natural resources/mining.
Other findings showed 77 % of respondents feel a minimum wage increase will hurt small businesses. But slightly more, 81 %, believe the "ideal" minimum wage is higher than the state's current $8.25 an hour.
