Beehive State News

Small businesses in the United States continue to face challenges in filling job vacancies, according to the National Federation of Independent Business's (NFIB) latest Jobs Report. Released on April 3, 2025, the report reveals that 40% of small business owners in March reported difficulty finding workers, a two-point increase from February.

Casey Hill, NFIB's Utah state director, emphasized the ongoing challenges faced by small businesses, stating, "Our latest Jobs Report shows just how fragile and slow the small business recovery still is." He added, "That’s why it was good our Legislature provided some income tax reduction and liability reform to help Main Street firms weather the storm."

According to the report, while job openings remain steady, the sectors with the highest number of vacancies include construction, transportation, and manufacturing, with construction job openings rising significantly by 10 points from last month and 12 points from March 2024. Transportation sector vacancies also saw a 23-point increase from February to 53%.

NFIB Chief Economist Bill Dunkelberg noted, "With qualified workers in short supply, job openings stayed solid on Main Street in March. As spring progresses, fewer small business owners plan to create new positions, but they are looking to fill current vacancies."

The report further indicates that labor quality continues to be a significant concern, with 19% of small business owners citing it as their top operating problem, unchanged from February. Labor costs, while remaining a concern, have slightly decreased, with the percentage of owners reporting it as their main problem falling to 11% in March.

The NFIB survey tracks data from businesses that generally employ between one and nine people and report approximately $500,000 in annual gross sales. This report also highlights a trend of increased compensation, with a net 38% of small business owners raising pay in March, marking a five-point increase from February. Additionally, a net 19% plan to raise compensation within the next three months.

For more information or to stay updated with Utah small-business news, readers are encouraged to visit NFIB's website or follow them on social media.