Have the nation’s small businesses ever had such a hard time filling open positions? The National Federation of Small Business’ monthly jobs report showed that 42% of small business owners reported job openings they could not fill, 20 percentage points higher than the 48-year historical average of 22%. What’s more, 91% of business owners trying to hire reported few or no “qualified” applicants for the positions they were trying to fill in March while 28% of owners reported few qualified applicants for their open positions. Nearly a quarter 23% reported no applicants for open positions. This is a local problem, too. There are jobs open ranging from restaurants to skilled labor. Some local businesses have shut down an extra day each week because they can’t find staff.
Never before have the nation’s small businesses had such a hard time filling open positions.
The National Federation of Small Business’ monthly jobs report showed that 42% of small business owners reported job openings they could not fill, 20 percentage points higher than the 48-year historical average of 22%. What’s more, 91% of business owners trying to hire reported few or no “qualified” applicants for the positions they were trying to fill in March while 28% of owners reported few qualified applicants for their open positions. Nearly a quarter 23% reported no applicants for open positions.
This is a local problem, too.
For all of our hand-wringing over job losses and people dropping out of the labor force, there are jobs open ranging from restaurants to manufacturers. Some local businesses are shutting down an extra day each week because they can’t find people who want to work.