The latest monthly Jobs Report released by the National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) showed – once again – finding employees remains a big problem for Main Street entrepreneurs.

“The economic picture has always been a bit brighter in Montana than in the rest of the nation because of the state policies we put in place, policies it would be wise for this session of the Legislature to resist adding needless regulations or diminish the success of existing policy,” said Ronda Wiggers, state director for NFIB in Montana.

The Jobs Report is a national snapshot of NFIB-member, small-business owners not broken down by state. The typical NFIB member employs 10 people and reports gross sales of about $500,000 a year.

“Finding qualified workers remained a major headwind for stronger job growth on Main Street in December. In the meantime, compensation increases have softened among small businesses, but remained solid as the year came to an end.”

Highlights from Latest NFIB Jobs Report

* 35% (seasonally adjusted) of small business owners reported job openings they could not fill in December, down one point from November.

* Seasonally adjusted, a net 29% of small business owners reported raising compensation in December, down three points from November and the lowest reading since March 2021.

* A seasonally adjusted net 19% of owners plan to create new jobs in the next three months, up one point from November. 

* Job openings were the highest in the transportation, construction, and manufacturing sectors, and the lowest in the agriculture and finance sectors.

* Job openings in construction were down 13 points from last month and down 17 points from the prior year, with 41% reporting an open position they can’t fill.