Last Frontier News

The National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) has released its latest Jobs Report, indicating continued difficulties for small business owners in filling job vacancies. The report provides a broad overview rather than state-specific data. A significant concern for small businesses is the future of the Main Street Tax Certainty Act (H.R. 4721, S. 1706), which aims to make the 20% Small Business Deduction permanent. "Failure to do so will result in a big tax increase on 90% of the nation’s small business owners," the report states.

NFIB Chief Economist Bill Dunkelberg commented on the ongoing hiring challenges: “Job openings on Main Street remain historically high as small business owners continue to lament the lack of qualified applicants for their open positions. Owners have grown understandably frustrated as attempts to fill their workforce repeatedly stall and cost pressures continue to rise.”

In August, 62% of small business owners reported attempts to hire, increasing by five percentage points from July. Of these owners, 56% reported experiencing difficulty in finding qualified applicants. Specifically, 36% of owners have openings for skilled positions, an increase of four points, whereas 15% are looking for unskilled labor, a decrease of one point.

The construction industry saw a five-point increase in job openings compared to July, with 60% of these businesses reporting vacant positions they are unable to fill. The highest demand for labor is in the transportation, construction, and manufacturing sectors, while agriculture and finance exhibit lower demand.

A seasonally adjusted net 13% of owners plan to create new jobs in the coming three months, a slight decrease of two percentage points from July.

The NFIB has been advocating for small and independent business owners for 80 years, providing support in Washington, D.C., and across all state capitals. The organization remains dedicated to small business interests. More information can be found at nfib.com.