Small businesses reported that the level of worker shortages continued in April, with a seasonally adjusted 34% of respondents in a National Federation of Independent Business survey released Thursday saying they were having trouble hiring the workers that they needed, up from 32% in the previous month.
The NFIB's Small Business Employment Index fell to 100.4 in April from 101.6 in March, above the historical average of 100.0 but below the 2025 average of 101.2.
"Even in a month with a weaker Employment Index, over half of small business owners reported hiring or trying to hire," said NFIB Chief Economist Bill Dunkelberg. "A lack of qualified applicants has been a major hurdle for Main Street, and employers are struggling to fill open positions."
The percentage of business owners reporting labor quality as their top business concern rose to 18% from 15%, while labor costs were listed as single most important concern by 9%, down from 10% in March.
About 53% of owners said they were trying to hire in the month, up from 52% in March. Around 87% of the respondents who were hiring or trying to hire reported finding few or no qualified applicants for the position they were trying to fill.
A seasonally adjusted net 30% of owners said they needed to raise compensation to hire workers in April, down from 33% in March. A net 18% of owners said they plan to raise compensation in the next three months unchanged from March.