Gem State Wire

The National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) released its latest monthly Jobs Report, highlighting ongoing challenges for small business owners in finding employees. According to the report, 35% of small business owners reported unfilled job openings in December, a slight decrease from November.

Suzanne Budge, NFIB's Idaho State Director, commented on the situation, emphasizing Idaho's resilience against national economic difficulties. "We fortunately live in a state that has been a bulwark against many of the bad economic headwinds blowing in from across the nation," Budge stated. She credited this to effective state policies and expressed support for Governor Brad Little's recent proposals aimed at tax relief and regulatory improvements.

NFIB Chief Economist Bill Dunkelberg noted that finding qualified workers remains a significant challenge for job growth among small businesses. He added that while compensation increases have slowed, they remain robust as the year concluded.

The report detailed sector-specific trends, with job openings most prevalent in transportation, construction, and manufacturing. Conversely, agriculture and finance sectors reported fewer vacancies. In construction specifically, job openings dropped significantly compared to previous months and last year.

NFIB plans to release its latest Small Business Optimism Index on January 14.

For further updates on Idaho's small-business landscape, visit NFIB's website or follow their Twitter account @NFIB_ID.