Enterprise leaders world wide have a serious concern for the 12 months – recession, in line with a survey by nonprofit suppose tank The Convention Board.

That strains up with some feedback from administration throughout Friday’s fourth-quarter earnings calls. JPMorgan Chase (JPM) mentioned its central unit is for a light recession. Additionally, the World Financial institution decreased world development anticipated, as inflation, greater rates of interest and geopolitical occasions restrict financial exercise.

The Convention Board survey, which polled about 700 CEOs and greater than 450 different senior executives, discovered fears of a recession or financial slowdown had been the highest exterior concern for 2023.

Recession fears have intensified since final 12 months’s ballot, by which the recession was ranked sixth amongst exterior considerations. Inflation and rising borrowing prices had been among the many different high considerations for CEOs world wide in 2023.

Most CEOs surveyed by the suppose tank anticipate little or no financial development for many of 2023. 60% of US CEOs surveyed and 51% of CEOs globally anticipate development to renew of their area on the finish of 2023 or mid-2024.

Attracting and retaining expertise tops the record of inner CEO considerations for the 12 months amid labor shortages.

“As CEOs world wide search to include prices, staff could possibly breathe a sigh of reduction as few executives look to layoffs,” mentioned Dana Peterson, chief economist, The Convention Board. “As an alternative, they plan to mitigate danger by accelerating digital transformation, searching for new alternatives in higher-growth markets, and revising enterprise fashions.”

Considerations about COVID-19 have taken a again seat for many CEOs, except for Asian CEOs. It stays the principle exterior concern of Chinese language CEOs for the second consecutive 12 months.

A JPMorgan Chase survey discovered that almost all US small and midsize enterprise leaders anticipate a recession this 12 months. However they’re extra optimistic concerning the prospects for their very own companies than that of the economic system.