08/31/2021
NFIB Small Business Weekly News
LEADING THE NEWS
Small Businesses Having Difficulty Hiring Workers The Epoch Times (8/18) discussed small businesses’ difficulties in hiring, citing the NFIB jobs report for July “which found that 49 percent of owners reported job openings that couldn’t be filled—a 48-year record high. At the same time, small-business owners’ plans to fill open positions remain at record high levels, and many are boosting wages to attract workers.” NFIB Chief Economist Bill Dunkelberg was quoted saying in a statement, “Small business owners struggled to find qualified workers for their open positions, which has impaired business activity in the busy summer months. .. Owners are raising compensation to the highest levels in 48 years to attract needed employees.”
In a paywall-protected article, the Des Moines (IA) Register (8/17) discussed the labor market in Iowa, quoting NFIB Iowa State Director Matt Everson “I would say pre-pandemic that was our No.1 issue as well, so it’s interesting that we’re back to where we were before the pandemic. It either stalls growth for some companies or, quite frankly, we have some members that have to shut their doors because they can’t find enough workers.” NFIB member Jerry Akers, owner of 36 Great Clips locations in the state, was quoted saying, “Around 40% of…pre-pandemic staff chose not to return to their former positions. There are so many tiers to this issue. We’ve had staff that literally move from the area, we’ve got staff that’s fearful for their health, we’ve got staff that are single moms that still can’t find day care, so there’s just a variety of things holding us back.”
