Nevada Small Businesses Struggle to Fill Jobs

A new report of the small business workforce shows hiring demand remains strong, but employers are still struggling to find enough qualified workers to fill open positions.

According to the National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) monthly Jobs Report, 32% of small business owners nationwide reported job openings they could not fill in March. While that figure is down one point from February, it remains significantly higher than the historical average of 24%.

The report found that 27% of owners were seeking skilled workers, a slight decline from the previous month, while 12% reported openings for unskilled labor, an increase of two points.

NFIB Nevada State Director Tray Abney said business owners are continuing to navigate multiple pressures at once, including workforce shortages, taxes, and regulatory burdens.

The NFIB report is based on a national survey and does not provide Nevada-specific breakdowns. Its Small Business Employment Index fell 1.9 points in March to 101.6. Despite the decline, the index remains above both the 2025 average of 101.2 and the historical average of 100.

NFIB Chief Economist Bill Dunkelberg said hiring activity appears restrained, even as underlying challenges persist.

Looking ahead, a seasonally adjusted net 12% of small business owners said they plan to create new jobs in the next three months. That figure is unchanged from February and close to the long-term average of 11%.

Overall hiring activity showed a slowdown, with 52% of owners reporting they were hiring or trying to hire in March, a two-point drop from the previous month.

Labor quality is also a major concern. Fifteen percent of business owners cited it as their single most important problem, unchanged from February and above the historical average of 12%. The last time that figure fell below 15% was in December 2016.

There are also signs that compensation pressures may be easing. A net 33% of owners reported raising wages in March, down one point from February. Meanwhile, a net 18% said they plan to increase compensation in the next three months, marking a four-point drop and the lowest level recorded since July 2025.