WASHINGTON — The National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) says in its November jobs report that 33% (seasonally adjusted) of small-business owners reported job openings they could not fill in the month, up 1 point from October and the first increase since June. 

Unfilled job openings remain above the historical average of 24%, the report finds. Twenty-six percent have openings for skilled workers (down 2 points), and 12% have openings for unskilled labor (up 1 point).

“The economy has continued to grow steadily despite the recent government shutdown,” says NFIB Chief Economist Bill Dunkelberg. “On Main Street, job growth continues to be constrained by a lack of qualified employees.” 

A seasonally adjusted net 19% of owners plan to create new jobs in the next three months, up 4 points from October and the highest reading of the year. The last time hiring plans reached this level was in December 2024, NFIB says. Firms remain interested in hiring but are finding it difficult to fill openings. 

Overall, 56% of owners reported hiring or trying to hire in November, unchanged from October. Fifty percent of owners (89% of those hiring or trying to hire) reported few or no qualified applicants for the positions they were trying to fill (up 1 point). Thirty percent reported few qualified applicants (down 1 point), and 20% reported none (up 2 points). The last 12 months show a clear improvement in the hiring environment, with a growing percentage reporting “few” relative to the percentage reporting “none.” 

In November, 21% of small-business owners cited labor quality as their single most important problem, NFIB says, down 6 points, erasing most of October’s sudden increase. Labor costs, reported as the single most important problem by small-business owners, remained at 8%. 

Seasonally adjusted, a net 26% of small-business owners reported raising compensation in November, unchanged from October. A net 24% (seasonally adjusted) plan to raise compensation in the next three months, up 5 points from October. The last time plans to raise compensation were at this level was in December 2024, NFIB says.