Table 1 
Expected obstacles to businesses or organizations over the next three months, by selected industry, third quarter of 2021 

Expected obstacles to businesses or organizations over the next three months, by selected industry, third quarter of 2021
  All businesses Manufacturing Wholesale trade Retail trade Arts, entertainment and recreation Accommodation and food services
  % of businesses% of businesses% of businesses% of businesses% of businesses% of businesses
Rising cost of inputs 38.5 65.4 51.5 38.8 32.1 59.6
Recruiting skilled employees 34.6 46.9 27.2 37.8 26.0 55.3
Shortage of labour force 30.3 41.4 28.0 33.7 25.9 60.2
Cost of insurance 25.3 26.2 20.9 21.5 27.6 38.7
Retaining skilled employees 24.5 29.6 21.3 28.5 20.0 42.7
Transportation costs 22.8 41.0 45.0 28.6 8.6 19.7
Fluctuations in consumer demand 22.6 30.2 25.4 33.1 33.8 32.6
Difficulty acquiring inputs, products or supplies domestically 22.5 41.9 29.6 29.6 11.3 20.2
Attracting new or returning customers 21.7 27.0 21.7 30.4 42.2 33.8
Cost of personal protective equipment (PPE), additional cleaning or implementing distancing requirements 20.2 19.6 13.3 19.6 21.4 40.3
Maintaining sufficient cash flow or managing debt 18.0 18.7 18.4 18.5 24.4 30.9
Increasing competition 17.5 14.5 14.9 25.2 9.8 27.3
Government regulations 17.3 14.7 13.4 14.4 30.7 28.5
Maintaining inventory levels 16.1 30.2 32.7 42.5 7.8 19.4
Travel restrictions and travel bans 15.4 22.6 24.4 17.4 24.3 24.5
Difficulty acquiring inputs, products or supplies from abroad 15.0 34.4 36.1 27.0 6.9 13.0
Insufficient demand for goods or services offered 13.9 20.0 11.7 14.2 23.7 23.2
Speed of internet connection 9.9 7.4 8.6 9.7 10.6 12.0
Obtaining financing 9.4 12.1 5.3 8.4 13.4 15.7
Shortage of space or equipment 7.8 14.6 14.5 8.1 11.6 7.9
Intellectual property protection 2.9 2.9 1.1 3.5 2.5 0.8
Challenges related to exporting goods and services 2.5 8.6 6.8 2.4 1.1 3.0
Other 1.6 2.3 1.0 0.8 0.6 1.3
None 21.2 9.4 13.6 14.9 15.5 6.5
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