Historic high number of business owners report unfilled job openings

The National Federation of Independent Businesses latest job report shows a record high number of owners are unable to find new hires to fill current openings. 46% of manufacturers surveyed said they had openings.

The tight labor market continues to be the biggest problem facing small businesses, with 37 percent of owners reporting job openings they could not fill in the current period, a new survey high. Up one point from June, 13 percent of owners reported using temporary workers to compete in the tight labor market according to NFIB’s monthly jobs report, released today.

“The July jobs report shows the magnitude of small businesses that are growing and hiring at record levels, creating new jobs and opportunities for the workforce, and offering employees higher compensation,” said NFIB President and CEO Juanita D. Duggan.

Here are two more graphs the NFIB offered: