NFIB Small Business Employment Index Rises to 102.1 as 36% Report Unfilled July Openings
Updated
Updated · Alabama Political Reporter · Aug 7
NFIB Small Business Employment Index Rises to 102.1 as 36% Report Unfilled July Openings
3 articles · Updated · Alabama Political Reporter · Aug 7
Summary
July's NFIB Small Business Employment Index climbed to 102.1 from 100.2 in June, ending four straight monthly declines and moving above both the 2025 average of 101.2 and the historical 100.0.
Thirty-six percent of owners reported job openings they could not fill, up 4 points from June and the highest since June 2025, as 27% named labor quality or availability their top problem.
A net 20% of owners plan to create jobs in the next three months, up 9 points from June and the highest since October 2022, even though actual hiring slipped 1 point to 61%.
Fifty-one percent of owners hiring or trying to hire said they found few or no qualified applicants, while compensation pressures also rose, with a net 31% raising pay and 19% planning increases.
NFIB said spending tied to large projects such as AI data centers is supporting growth, but a stagnant labor force is leaving Main Street businesses facing longer waits, fewer services and higher customer costs.