Chamber630: How Small Business Owners Feel Right Now About Finding Workers, Vaccine Requirements

Downers Grove IL

04 November, 2021

11:25 PM

Description

Press release from the Chamber630: Nov 4, 2021 Small business owners are finding it more challenging than earlier in 2021 to find workers to fill open positions. by Thaddeus SwanekSenior Writer and Editor, Strategic Communications Published October 29, 2021 Our nation's economy relies on the over 32 million small businesses that create jobs and provide essential services to communities across the country. This year, small business owners have faced challenges not only navigating the pandemic, but also finding the workers they need, making sure the workers they do have stay safe and healthy, and protecting the health of customers too. The U.S. Chamber and MetLife developed the State of the Workforce report to poll small business owners on how they are feeling right now about these challenges. The latest poll, taken September 30 – October 7, 2021, revealed that small business owners are finding it more challenging than earlier in 2021 to find workers to fill open positions, and a majority support vaccination requirements for their staff.   Growing Difficulty Finding Experienced, Talented Workers Retailers show the strongest levels of support for vaccine requirements for employees (70%), and proof of vaccination for customers (68%). 10% of small businesses say they already require customers to show vaccine cards, up from just 3% that said they were doing this in June. For employees unwilling to comply with vaccine or testing requirements, 43% of small businesses report they are likely to replace them, but few (10%) say they have already done so. Small business decision makers are concerned about the health (65%) and future (64%) of their business, while half (52%) say they are concerned about their staffing. This press release was produced by the Chamber630. The views expressed here are the author's own.