A new snapshot of the small business workforce shows hiring is not keeping pace with demand, leaving many owners searching for solutions.
According to the latest monthly Jobs Report from the National Federation of Independent Business, 32% of small business owners reported job openings they could not fill in March, down one point from February. That number remains well above the historical average of 24%.
The report shows 27% of owners had openings for skilled workers, down one point, while 12% reported openings for unskilled labor, up two points.
NFIB Nevada State Director Tray Abney said small business owners continue to face multiple challenges at once.
“Every small business owner struggles with hiring ready-to-work qualified employees, taxes, and regulations every single day. Congress did right by making the 20% Small Business Tax Deduction permanent, which will enhance stability and longevity. Now, we need to elect more pro-job-creation legislators this year, who will help take the burden off Gov. Joe Lombardo to stop Carson City’s worst anti-business impulses. Such an economic climate would help stabilize businesses long enough for them to work out their hiring difficulties.”
The NFIB Jobs Report is based on a national survey of small business owners and is not broken down by state. The organization’s Small Business Employment Index, which tracks labor market conditions, fell 1.9 points in March to 101.6. Despite the drop, the index remains above both the 2025 average of 101.2 and the historical average of 100.
NFIB Chief Economist Bill Dunkelberg said hiring activity remains limited, even as challenges persist.
"While small businesses are not hiring extensively, they continue to face difficulties related to labor cost and quality. Despite the current stagnant employment growth, economic conditions could change rapidly.”
The report also shows a seasonally adjusted net 12% of owners plan to create new jobs in the next three months, unchanged from February and close to the average of net 11%.
Overall, 52% of owners reported hiring or trying to hire in March, down two points from the previous month.
Labor quality continues to be a concern, with 15% of small business owners citing it as their single most important problem, unchanged from February and above the historical average of 12%. The last time that figure fell below 15% was in December 2016.
Compensation trends show some easing. A net 33% of owners reported raising compensation in March, down one point from February. A net 18% plan to raise compensation in the next three months, down four points and the lowest level since July 2025.
