Press Release: NoVA Business Leaders Survey – Confidence Improving, More Pro-Growth Policies Needed
LEESBURG, VA — The latest Northern Virginia Business Leader Survey shows rising employer confidence, but a continued demand for state and local policymakers to prioritize pro-growth policies related to housing, workforce, permitting, and taxes.
Conducted with nine regional business organizations, including the Loudoun County Chamber, the Q2 2026 NVC/Pinkston Northern Virginia Business Leader Survey gathered input from 185 area CEOs, senior executives, and business owners.
The survey revealed that 76% of business leaders are very or somewhat optimistic about their company’s performance over the next six months, a 9% increase from the previous quarter. It also showed that 40% expect the region’s economy to grow in that period, while 22% foresee a decline, both improvements from the first-quarter 2026 survey.
These results are encouraging and demonstrate that Northern Virginia employers remain resilient, confident, and prepared to invest,” said Loudoun Chamber President Tony Howard. “At the same time, the survey sends a clear message: business confidence relies on a policy environment that supports employers in growing, competing, hiring, and planning for the future.”
The 34% of employers expect to increase hiring, 56% expect staffing levels to remain about the same, and only 6% expect to reduce headcount. The report also found that 39% of businesses expect to increase capital spending over the next six months, while 43% expect no change.
“For Loudoun employers, workforce remains the most important factor shaping business growth,” Howard said. “The fact that more companies are planning to hire is good news, but it also highlights the need for housing, transportation, and talent investments that keep our region competitive.”
The survey also identified key policy priorities for state leaders, with business executives naming reducing taxes, preserving Virginia’s right-to-work law, improving housing affordability, reducing regulation, and investing in transportation and infrastructure as top concerns.
At the local level, respondents identified reducing taxes, improving housing affordability, expediting permitting, reducing regulation, and investing in infrastructure as their top priorities.
The report also shows that many business leaders do not believe that state policymakers fully understand the challenges of running a business. Forty-four percent said Richmond policymakers do not understand or really do not understand local business operations, while 39% were unsure, and 17% said policymakers understand well or very well.
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