Poll Finds Labor Shortage Worsening for Small Businesses

Nearly two out of three small businesses (65%) reported they are struggling to hire employees, up 5% from January, according to the March Labor Shortage Poll from Alignable.

The poll of 6,192 small business owners conducted from February 19 to March 3 found 43% report it is significantly more difficult to hire people now, compared to 38% who reported significant difficulty in hiring in January. The latest poll also found 71% needed to pay higher wages to attract workers, up from 11% from January. 

The states experiencing the most difficulty in hiring include California and New Jersey, with 71% of small businesses in both states struggling to find employees. Other states where businesses are experiencing labor shortages include:

• Pennsylvania, with 69% of small businesses struggling to hire
• Ohio at 68%
• Texas at 65%.

The state with the largest labor shortage increase was Ohio, which jumped 11% over January’s figure.