NFIB Report Says Employment Index Rising; Small Firms Lifting Compensation

Small Business Employment Index Rises, Yet Skilled Labor Shortage Persists

Small businesses are navigating a labor market that continues to tighten, according to NFIB’s February Jobs Report. The report indicates a notable uptick in the Small Business Employment Index, which rose nearly 1 point to 103.5, reflecting ongoing challenges and opportunities for small business owners. The increase in the employment index signifies a robust job market that’s outperforming past averages. Currently, the index sits 2.3 points abov…

NFIB report says employment index rising; small firms lifting compensation

NFIB’s Jobs Report for February shows that the Small Business Employment Index rose nearly 1 point to 103.5, showing further tightness after January consolidated the gains measured in December. This current reading is 2.3 points above the 2025 average of 101.2, and 3.5 points above the historical average of 100. In February, 33% (seasonally adjusted) of small business owners reported job openings they could not fill, up 2 points from January. Un…