The National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) has released its final monthly Jobs Report for 2024, highlighting ongoing challenges faced by small business owners in finding qualified employees. The report indicates that despite seasonal boosts from events like Small Business Saturday and holiday sales, the struggle to fill positions persists.
Tray Abney, NFIB's Nevada State Director, expressed concerns about the impact of potential new taxes, fees, and regulations on small businesses. "Small business job creators continue to struggle to find qualified employees to fill open positions," said Abney. He urged federal leaders and the 2025 Legislature to avoid actions that could exacerbate the situation.
Bill Dunkelberg, NFIB Chief Economist, noted that while the overall job market is softening, small businesses are under pressure to increase compensation significantly to attract and retain workers.
The November jobs report revealed that 36% of small business owners reported unfilled job openings, a slight increase from October. Labor costs were identified as a significant issue for 11% of business owners. Despite these challenges, there is some optimism with a net 18% of owners planning to create new jobs in the next three months.
Job vacancies were most prevalent in sectors such as transportation, construction, and professional services but less so in agriculture and finance. In particular, construction saw an increase in unfilled positions compared to previous months.
For more information on Nevada's small-business news or details from this release, visit www.nfib.com/nevada or follow NFIB on Twitter @NFIB_NV.
