The Greater Langley Chamber of Commerce has released a new Langley Business Sentiment Report, sharing what local businesses told us in our most recent Chamber Member Survey.  The report also includes broader economic context from the Canadian Chamber of Commerce’s most recent Business Insights Quarterly, which is informed by Statistics Canada data gathered from more than 8,700 Canadian businesses.

The report is designed to provide a practical snapshot of how businesses are feeling, what issues are weighing on their outlook, and where local decision-makers can help strengthen the conditions for business growth.

The local data in the report comes directly from the Greater Langley Chamber of Commerce’s 2026 Member Survey. Through that survey, Chamber members shared their current business outlook, the issues affecting their operations, and the priorities they believe matter most for the year ahead.

When asked to rate their current business confidence and outlook on a scale of 1 to 10, Langley Chamber members gave an average score of 6.29. That result points to a business community that is not in crisis, but is clearly cautious. Businesses continue to operate, adapt, and look for opportunities, but cost pressures, uncertainty, and operating challenges are affecting confidence and decision-making. 

When asked to identify the top issues facing their business, Langley Chamber members clearly identified the overall cost of doing business as the leading concern, selected by 68% of respondents. This was more than double any other issue.

Other top issues included:

• Trade, tariffs, and import/export issues 

• Expanding AI capabilities

• Labour force and workers

• Reducing regulations and red tape 

The results show that Langley businesses are focused on both immediate pressures and future competitiveness. Businesses are managing elevated costs, trade uncertainty, and workforce challenges, while also looking at how technology and AI can help improve productivity and capacity.

That national data shows a similar picture: businesses across Canada are operating in a cautious environment. Business expectations have remained below neutral for seven consecutive quarters, pointing to persistent uncertainty among firms. The Canadian Chamber also found that cost pressures remain one of the dominant issues nationally, with six of the top ten business obstacles related to costs.

Labour challenges are also evolving. While the national labour market has eased compared to the extremely tight conditions of recent years, many businesses still face difficulty finding qualified workers. Locally, more than six in ten Langley Chamber respondents said workforce development and finding the right workers remains at least a somewhat significant challenge.

The report also includes a focused look at crime and community safety. While crime and street disorder were not a top overall issue identified by businesses as economic concerns rose to the top, they remain a meaningful concern for many local employers.

In the Chamber’s survey, 60% of respondents said crime and street disorder are important or impactful issues for their business, while 17% reported that their business had been personally impacted by crime or vandalism in the past year.

These issues matter because business confidence is shaped not only by broad economic trends, but by day-to-day operating conditions: safe commercial areas, reliable transportation, access to workers, manageable costs, and clear, efficient municipal processes.

The purpose of the Langley Business Sentiment Report is to ensure that the voice of local business is part of the conversation.

By combining local survey intelligence from Langley Chamber members with national data from the Canadian Chamber and Statistics Canada, the report gives business leaders, elected officials, and community partners a clearer understanding of the pressures businesses are facing and the opportunities they are watching.

The message from local business is clear: Langley businesses remain resilient, but cautious. They are continuing to adapt and pursue opportunities, but cost pressures, trade uncertainty, workforce challenges, regulatory burden, public safety concerns, and transportation issues are affecting their confidence and decision-making.

The Langley Chamber will continue to bring these insights forward as we advocate for policies, investments, and decisions that support business growth, economic competitiveness, and a strong local economy.

Read the Report