C-suite confident in their ability to achieve near-term growth during recession

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In a seeming contradiction, a full 81% of executives say they believe a recession will hit within the next six months, but a similar number – some 77% of leaders – are also confident they’ll achieve near-term growth. These figures come from the third 2022 PwC Managing Business Risks Pulse Survey, which looked at more than 650 U.S. executives this October. Asking questions about the macroeconomic environment, leaders’ fears, and financial planning, the survey paints a picture of what changes might be coming to the workforce in the coming year.

First, the survey finds that executives are confident in their own abilities to maintain success despite economic threats. In addition to the 77% of executives who are confident in their ability to achieve near-term growth, the survey finds that 82% of leaders are confident in their ability to execute on transformation initiatives, and more than three-quarters of executives say their companies can free up working capital as needed.