Firms see company tax cuts as best support

Many bosses still expect a rapid economic rebound despite much uncertainty, a new survey reveals. (AAP)

Uncertainty is expected to plague the economy for months but many bosses still expect a rapid rebound, a survey shows.

Consumer sentiment figures from one of Australia's digital credit reporting firms shows how businesses are thinking as they begin to navigate another financial year of COVID-19 outbreaks and lockdowns.

"Businesses desperately need goalposts to aim at, even if they're 12 months away," CreditorWatch chief executive Patrick Coughlan said on Friday.

"It's a very challenging environment without an end game but there will be one and those businesses surviving are preparing for that end day."

The top three challenges for 2021/22 are uncertain economic and trading conditions (58 per cent), managing the uncertainty of border closures and shutdowns (53 per cent) and managing staff (32 per cent) with many working from home.

Recruiting and retaining staff is the leading area for planned investment this year.

The latest job figures showed the unemployment rate unexpectedly fell to 4.6 per cent in July from 4.9 per cent, its lowest level since December 2008, as many locked down workers give up on looking for work.

The full impact of the lockdown will show up in August and September data.

Supply chain management, threatened last year, is no longer one of the biggest concerns as experience has proven Australia's resilience.

Most want company tax cuts to support them through another financial year.

Other top suggestions for decision makers include opening borders (43 per cent) and cutting red tape (37 per cent).

But business owners remain optimistic about the future, the CreditorWatch survey found.

"Once Australia gets through these lockdown periods, the economic and financial bounceback will be large and swift," Mr Coughlan said.

Treasurer Josh Frydenberg is banking on the economy, and businesses, adjusting to COVID-19 without further draining government coffers.

He has warned states and territories not to expect the same level of financial support once Australia's vaccination rate passes 70 per cent.

"There are going to be more cases, there are going to be deaths, but we can't live in lockdown forever," he told Nine.

More than half of Australia's adult population has received at least one dose of a coronavirus vaccine.