Our Research: Workforce

While small business owners spend their days concentrating on whatever their particular specialty is--be it marketing services, dry cleaning or landscaping, there's one thing they all have in common: they have to contend with a host of larger issues ranging from employee pay and benefits, medical leave issues, nondiscrimination and more. These are issues they deal with often times on a daily basis, which means they know better than most what kind of solutions would be helpful when shaping public policy. The topics below clearly outline small business owners' opinions on these important workforce topics.

Wed, 02/01/2023

Small businesses in Pennsylvania are still struggling to hire and retain a ready workforce, persistent challenges in the wake of the pandemic.

Wed, 01/25/2023

Small businesses in Illinois are still struggling to hire and retain a ready workforce, persistent challenges in the wake of the pandemic.

Wed, 01/25/2023

While small businesses employ nearly half (46.4%) of the private workforce in the United States, many are struggling to hire and retain a ready workforce. One viable solution to their persistent workforce challenges is the passing of Clean Slate policies, which seal and expunge certain criminal records and allow justice-impacted individuals to seek employment opportunities and entrepreneurship. Individual state analyses of small business responses in Georgia, Illinois, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Texas found widespread support for Clean Slate policies at the state and federal level.

Wed, 01/11/2023

A new poll of Georgia small business owners reveals strong support for criminal justice reforms at the state and federal level. Georgia small businesses believe that Clean Slate policies can help employers fill gaps in their workforce and remove barriers to employment or entrepreneurship opportunities for formerly incarcerated individuals.

Wed, 10/26/2022

This poll, conducted in six states – Georgia, Illinois, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Texas – found that 84% of small business owners agreed that Clean Slate policies would open up a pool of job applicants that deserve a second chance. Regardless of political affiliation, small businesses shared support for policies that can help boost labor recruitment. Given the ongoing workforce challenges hindering small business growth, the poll results confirmed widespread backing for policies that seal or expunge qualifying criminal records from background checks. 

Thu, 10/13/2022

Entrepreneurs continue to navigate a number of challenges operating their businesses, more than two years since the COVID-19 pandemic started. Small Business Majority and Start Small Think Big surveyed small business owners and managers in their networks to understand their current business conditions, how they are faring amid rising inflation, and what they need to maintain and grow their businesses over the next six months to a year.

Thu, 05/12/2022
small business owner

As entrepreneurs continue to navigate a number of challenges operating their businesses, Small Business Majority surveyed small business owners and managers nationwide to understand their current business conditions and how they may have benefited from federal relief programs. The survey found that nearly two-thirds (65%) of small businesses felt more optimistic about their business prospects for this year's second quarter. Despite this optimism, small businesses are facing a number of challenges, including inflation, supply chain disruptions and workforce shortages.

Tue, 12/14/2021
Small business owner on phone

From ongoing supply chain disruptions to new fears surrounding potential impacts stemming from new coronavirus variants, small business owners continue to face uncertainty about the future of their businesses. A new survey from Small Business Majority sheds a light on how supply chain disruptions are impacting small businesses during the crucial fourth quarter, as well as their views on the Biden administration’s COVID-19 vaccination requirement for businesses with 100 or more employees, and key components in the Build Back Better plan that are being negotiated in the U.S. Senate.

Wed, 09/22/2021

The federal government is implementing a series of new COVID-19 vaccination requirements to mitigate the impacts of the recent surge in COVID-19 cases. A new Small Business Majority opinion poll reveals that a majority of small businesses with employees are supportive of vaccination requirements at places of business, while many have already implemented vaccine policies on their own.

Tue, 08/31/2021

California lawmakers are weighing a proposal to require proof of COVID-19 vaccination or a negative test for customers at consumer-facing businesses and to similarly require employers to mandate vaccinations or negative COVID-19 tests for employees. New opinion polling from Small Business Majority reveals that small businesses in California are supportive of proposals to mandate vaccinations and testing at places of business to help ensure local economies can operate safely, amid setbacks from the current surge in COVID-19 cases.

Pages