Monitoring Small Business Employment

Small businesses make up roughly half of U.S. economic activity and are a significant factor in the current economic recovery. After cutting millions of jobs earlier in the year, small business hiring must forge a rebound. The NFIB small business survey provides insight on employment, hiring plans, operating environment, and other key factors influencing small businesses. Recent survey data suggests more small businesses are planning to hire than previously reported. As the chart above shows, the close relationship between plans to hire and actual employment suggests improvements in small business employment could be on the horizon.