As the industry emerges from the Covid-19 pandemic, 88 percent of equipment manufacturers report a positive outlook for 2021, according to a new survey released by the Association of Equipment Manufacturers. More than half of the respondents from equipment manufacturers expect sales to increase or remain stable despite the pandemic.
Respondents indicated that the lingering pandemic and keeping employees safe and on the job remain top concerns, followed by finding skilled workers for new jobs being created. One in eight respondents said it will have a lasting impact on how they work. Face-to-face meetings with colleagues and work travel are the top two activities they look forward to in 2021.
Additional findings include:
- A clear majority (88 percent) have a positive outlook for 2021 while only one in ten has a negative outlook for the new year.
- One in five (19 percent) said that sales are up while one in three (36 percent) indicated that sales are stable. 45 percent said sales are down as a result of Covid-19. More than two thirds said that trade shows will be different, while a quarter said they will remain the same. 80 percent said the pandemic will have a lasting impact on how we work.
- Almost half indicated their work productivity increased during the Covid-19 pandemic, while one in three said their efficiency went down. One in five respondents said the pandemic caused them to consider retiring early, while eight in ten said the global health crisis has not impacted their retirement plans.
