In its latest monthly Jobs Report, the National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) noted that 32% of small business owners nationwide reported having job openings they could not fill in August. This figure, which is seasonally adjusted, marks a decrease of one percentage point from July and is the lowest since July 2020. The report also shows that 28% of owners have openings for skilled workers—a drop of one point—while 13% are seeking unskilled labor, up by one point.
John Kabateck, NFIB California State Director, commented on the report’s findings: “Right now, all the heavy lifting needed to return the small business economy to its pre-pandemic robustness is being done by Congress while the California Legislature seems to delight in adding more weight to the task, such as Senate Bill 512, which seeks to undermine Proposition 13 protections. In the few days remaining in their 2025 session, it would be nice to see legislators show they, too, can lend a hand.”
The NFIB’s Jobs Report surveys member small-business owners across the country but does not break down data by state. Most NFIB members employ between one and nine people and report gross sales around $500,000 annually.
Bill Dunkelberg, Chief Economist at NFIB, said: “While the economy appears to be doing well, small businesses are scaling back on job openings. Small business owners with job openings are still looking for qualified applicants, many citing labor quality as their single most important problem.”
The report highlighted that job openings were highest in construction, manufacturing, and transportation industries. Openings were lowest in wholesale and finance sectors. A net 15% of owners plan to create new jobs over the next three months—an increase for three consecutive months—and a net 29% reported raising compensation in August. Additionally, a net 20% plan further pay increases within three months. Labor costs cited as the main issue fell slightly from July.
NFIB has represented small and independent business interests at both federal and state levels for over eight decades.
