It’s been some time since this column last reviewed available data on the state of small businesses in the United States. Now, a new year is underway, a new Congress has convened, legislative sessions around the country are in full swing, and the 2024 presidential race has begun. What should policymakers in Washington and state capitals know about how small businesses say they’re doing? Several recent surveys and data releases provide insight. (Enormous HT: Tom Sullivan.)
Top Lines: Hiring Challenges, Diverging Outlooks
Across five different surveys released in January and February, small businesses are united in saying that, while they’re trying to hire, they face continued difficulties