Small Business Hiring Cools Slightly in August, NFIB Reports
NewsData.io · United States · Sep 12, 2026
The NFIB's latest report shows small business hiring softened in August, with 56% of owners hiring or trying to hire — down 5 points from July. Qualified applicant shortages remain acute, with 82% of those actively hiring reporting few or no qualified candidates. Forward-looking job creation plans also dipped, with a net 17% of owners planning new hires in the next quarter, down 3 points from July. Compensation pressures eased slightly, signaling a modest cooling but still-tight labor market for small business clients.
Related stories
EB3.Work: 82% of Small Businesses Hiring in August Found Few or No Qualified Applicants
Medium impactNew NFIB data for August 2026 show 82% of small businesses actively hiring found few or no qualified applicants, with 35% reporting unfilled…
NFIB: Small Business Hiring Plans Hit Highest Level Since 2022, But Labor Shortages Persist
Medium impactThe NFIB's July jobs report shows a seasonally adjusted net 20% of small business owners plan to create new jobs in the next three months — up 9…
U.S…
U.S…