Why MTI Owners Should Share the ITR Economic Forecast with Employees

Most companies treat economic forecasts like “owner-only” information—something discussed only in leadership meetings. This kind of thinking is missing a huge opportunity to enhance their workplace culture with their team.

For Members of the Metal Treating Institute, each quarter your company receives a 20+ page economic forecast report with a webcast presented by ITR Economics. It digs into “what do the numbers mean for you and your team”. The ITR economic forecast is more than a market outlook, it’s a leadership tool…one that strengthens trust, aligns teams, improves performance, and helps employees make smarter decisions in their own lives.

When ownership shares the forecast, the impact goes far beyond the shop floor.

It replaces rumor with reality…at work and at home

When employees don’t understand what’s happening in the economy, they fill in the blanks themselves:

• “I should probably hold off on buying a house.”
• “Maybe I should jump jobs before things get bad.”
• “I don’t know if this company is stable.”
• “Should I take on debt right now?”

Those assumptions are often wrong…and costly. Why share this valuable information with employees? ITR Economics has a 94.7% accuracy rating of predicting the ups and downs in the economy 4-quarters out.

Sharing a credible, third-party outlook from ITR Economics replaces fear-based guesswork with data-driven perspective. Employees gain clarity about whether the industry is heading into contraction, stabilization, or growth…and that clarity influences how they think about everything.

Certainty reduces anxiety. Reduced anxiety improves decision-making.  

It builds trust by explaining why decisions are made

Employees don’t need confidential numbers, but they do need context.

When leadership explains decisions through the lens of the forecast, employees understand:

• Why the company is investing in equipment or automation
• Why overtime is expanding or tightening
• Why hiring is aggressive—or cautious
• Why pricing pressure is real
• Why training and cross-skilling matter right now

That same context helps employees trust not just leadership, but the future.

People are far more confident making personal commitments (mortgages, education, family decisions, and retirement contributions) when they believe leadership sees the road ahead.

It helps employees make smarter personal financial decisions

This is one of the most overlooked benefits.

When employees understand where the economy and their industry are likely headed, they make more intentional life choices:

• Debt decisions: Is now a smart time to take on a car loan or home purchase?
• Savings behavior: Should I be building cash reserves, or investing more aggressively?
• Career planning: Is this a time to grow skills, stay put, or prepare for advancement?
• Family planning: Can we responsibly plan major life changes?
• Risk tolerance: How cautious or confident should I be over the next 12–24 months?

Access to the forecast doesn’t tell employees what to do, but it gives them a framework to think like adults, instead of reacting emotionally to headlines. That’s a gift most companies never give their people! 

With MTI’s economic forecast reports and webcasts you can deliver the ultimate gift: Clarity about the future.

It turns employees into planners instead of passengers

At work, employees who understand the forecast, stop reacting and start anticipating:

• Supervisors plan labor more effectively
• Maintenance teams schedule downtime smarter
• Purchasing avoids panic buying
• Quality teams anticipate customer pressure
• Sales and service teams interpret customer behavior more accurately

That same mindset carries into personal life. Employees begin planning ahead instead of feeling like the economy is something happening to them.

Prepared people are calmer, more focused, and more productive.

It improves retention by reducing fear-driven exits

Good people leave companies not because of pay, but because of uncertainty.

When employees don’t understand the business environment, they assume instability and start looking elsewhere, “just in case.” Sharing the forecast sends a different message:

• “We see what’s coming.”
• “We’re not guessing.”
• “We’re preparing.”
• “You’re safe enough here to plan your life.”

That confidence keeps top talent from making fear-based career moves, especially during volatile cycles.

It creates alignment during volatile periods

Every shop experiences tension when conditions change:

• Sales wants to push harder
• Operations worries about capacity
• Accounting wants cost control
• Employees want reassurance

A shared forecast creates a shared language:

• “This is where we are in the cycle.”
• “This is what customers are likely to do next.”
• “This is what we’re optimizing for right now.”

Alignment reduces friction. Reduced friction improves morale…at work and at home.

It reinforces a culture of respect and accountability

Sharing economic insight sends a clear message:

“We trust you with the truth.”

That elevates culture.

Employees who understand the broader picture take greater ownership of productivity, quality, safety, training, and efficiency, because they see how today’s behavior impacts tomorrow’s opportunity.

They also respect leadership more, because leadership respects them.

It helps employees connect today’s work to tomorrow’s opportunity

Economic forecasts aren’t just about risk, they highlight opportunity windows.

When employees see that preparation today leads to opportunity tomorrow, it creates motivation:

• “That’s why we’re investing now.”
• “That’s why training matters.”
• “That’s why we’re pushing quality and uptime.”
• “That’s why this effort counts.”

People work harder when they believe their effort is building toward something meaningful…for the company and for their own future.

The real reason this matters

The best heat treat companies don’t just manage processes, they lead people.

Sharing MTI’s ITR economic forecast strengthens trust, reduces fear, improves performance, and empowers employees to make smarter professional and personal decisions.

In a decade defined by volatility, labor challenges, and rapid change, clarity is leadership. And leadership that helps people plan their lives…not just their shifts, and builds loyalty that no paycheck alone can buy.

Start sharing MTI’s quarterly forecast reports and webcasts with your team to help them build clarity and confidence in what the future looks like in their world.

MTI’s printed reports and webcasts are located in MTI’s “Get Connected” page at HeatTreat.net. Once logged in, click on “MTI Connect” at the top, then click “Resource Library” for printed reports or Sales Forecast Webcasts. If you have questions on MTI’s economic forecasts or how to access them, contact MTI at info@heattreat.net.