The Council also asked the 54 presidents of its affiliate members to complete the survey. Key findings as well as a more detailed list of responses follow. Principal Findings U.S. Performance Respondents are optimistic in their assessment of overall U.S. competitiveness over the last decade. Nine of ten believe that it has somewhat or significantly improved. However, when asked to rate U.S. performance in specific areas, they generally were neutral to negative.
Respondents are unsure about whether the competitiveness gains of the last decade can be sustained.
Nearly two-thirds of respondents believe that manufacturing wages will remain stagnant over the next decade. However, more than half believe wages in service industries will increase. Looking to the future, respondents indicate that worker skills will be the most serious competitiveness hurdle the U.S. will face in the next decade. Role of Federal Policy in Competitiveness More than three-fourths of the respondents believe that most federal policies have had a neutral to negative impact on competitiveness during the last decade. They agree that trade policy has had the most positive effect and that the budget has had the most negative impact on competitiveness.