The annual survey aims to provide business with the opportunity to be part of the collective local business voice on local trading conditions and to share their views with council.

The business confidence survey gathers data providing a measure of local business confidence and the overall condition of the local economy, said council director Jeffery Sharp.

"Business confidence drives business growth and investment, supports jobs growth and attracts people to our region.

"Understanding how local businesses are being impacted by market forces, the economy and how their business is performing helps council to connect with local businesses and to more effectively deliver our economic development strategy.

"We're looking forward to gathering these local insights, unpacking with the business community and developing strategies that help to build a vibrant local economy now, and in the future," Mr Sharp said.

Men at Work provides labour hire, traffic services, training and assessment and truck mounted attenuator hire.

Ross Cargill says the business is a long time supporter of the business confidence survey.

"It is no different to when banks do surveys on confidence levels in the business community," he said.

"The survey's are good for the broader business community.

"We are enjoying relatively good conditions, historically.

"Although it is difficult to employ people. There are a number of state and federal issues involved in that," he said.

"The complex industrial relations environment, at times, makes it tough particularly for smaller to medium businesses."

After coming through a double election cycle and holiday period "everyone was stagnant and there was not a lot happening", he said.

He described the early part of the year as "very tough to have good confidence".

"People did not have a lot of vision or confidence," Mr Cargill said.

"But we are quietly confident about the future and the overall economy is at a very interesting time.

"Unfortunately there is a bit of a lull in (government) infrastructure builds.

"For us, as a registered training organisation, July was actually the busiest month for training in the last five years.

"That shows us that people are prepared to spend money on training which indicates there is a good level of business confidence."

The survey offers a great avenue for business owners to provide anonymous feedback about the challenges they face when it comes to staffing, capital investment and growing their business.

Local business owners can expect to be contacted by phone or email over the coming month and are being asked to put aside 5-10 minutes to complete the survey.

The survey can also be completed on council's website.

"Council encourages all local businesses to take part in this year's survey and to have their say on the important factors influencing economic growth in our region," said Mr Sharp.

Outcomes from the 2019 Business Confidence Survey will be analysed and communicated in October this year.

The 2019 Port Macquarie-Hastings Business Confidence Survey remains open until Saturday August 31.

For more information and to complete the survey, visit council's website or call council on 6581 8111.