A record number of small businesses couldn’t find enough workers to hire in April, according to a new report from the largest small-business lobby group in the United States, reinforcing concerns that the pandemic-related federal unemployment boost may be sidelining workers and hurting economic growth.
The National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) said in its May 11 report (pdf) that 44 percent of all small-business owners reported job openings they could not fill in April, up two points from March and a record high. April’s reading is 22 points higher than the 48-year historical average of 22 percent and is the third consecutive month of growth in unfilled job openings.
