SANTA FE – Even as the economy continues to shift, many small businesses across New Mexico are still struggling to find enough workers to fill open positions, according to a new report released Monday by the National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB).
The organization’s June Jobs Report found that nearly one in three small business owners reported having jobs they could not fill, an increase from May. While hiring activity has begun to rebound after slowing earlier this year, business owners say finding qualified applicants remains one of their biggest challenges.
According to the survey, 32 percent of small business owners reported unfilled job openings in June. Of those, 27 percent were seeking skilled workers, while 12 percent were looking to hire unskilled employees.
NFIB Chief Economist Bill Dunkelberg said hiring activity on Main Street is beginning to recover after weakening in May, but many businesses continue to have difficulty finding qualified workers.
The report also found that 62 percent of small business owners were either hiring or actively trying to hire during June. However, more than half of those employers said they received few or no qualified applicants for their open positions, the highest level reported since September 2024.
In New Mexico, NFIB State Director Jason Espinoza said the survey reflects what many business owners across the state are experiencing. He said businesses want to hire and expand to meet customer demand, but doing so has become increasingly difficult without enough qualified applicants.
Looking ahead, about 11 percent of small business owners said they expect to create new jobs over the next three months, a figure that matches the organization’s long-term average.
The survey also found that concerns about the availability and quality of workers increased during June, with nearly one in five owners saying labor shortages are now their biggest business problem. At the same time, fewer employers reported rising labor costs, and fewer said they expect to increase employee pay over the coming months.
The June survey was based on responses from 405 small business owners nationwide and was completed through June 29.
by John Krehbiel – Bravo Mic Communications, LLC. – john@bravomic.com
