A solid majority of small business owners (58 percent) say current conditions for their businesses are good, the highest level yet in six quarters of the CNBC|SurveyMonkey Small Business Confidence Index. That’s one of the core components of the small business index, and rising optimism on this score is the main reason the index has ticked higher to 62, tying its all-time high.
Some 33 percent of small business owners expect to hire additional full-time workers this year, seven percentage points higher than a year ago, and also a new high mark. Part of the hiring expectations stems from struggles small businesses have had filling open positions: 16 percent of small business owners say they have open positions that they have been unable to fill for at least three months. The shortfall, but also the high hiring needs, shoots up dramatically by size of firm.
Read more about our polling methodology here.
Click through all the results in the interactive toplines below:
Question text:
Which one of the following issues matters MOST to you right now?
Do you approve or disapprove of the way Donald Trump is handling his job as president?In addition to yourself, how many employees work at your small business?Is your business a:Overall, would you describe current conditions for your business as good, middling or bad? In the next 12 months, do you expect your business’s revenue to increase, stay the same, or decrease?
In the next 12 months, do you expect your business’s staff of full-time employees to increase, stay the same, or decrease? In the next 12 months, do you expect changes in government regulations to have a negative effect, no effect, or a positive effect on your business?
In the next 12 months, do you expect changes in trade policy to have a negative effect, no effect, or a positive effect on your business? In the next 12 months, do you expect changes in technological innovation to have a negative effect, no effect, or a positive effect on your business? In the next 12 months, do you expect changes in immigration policy to have a negative effect, no effect, or a positive effect on your business?
In general, do you think that free trade agreements between the U.S. and other countries help or hurt small businesses in the U.S.?
Do you think President Trump’s decision to impose tariffs on products imported from other countries will: Have you already or do you plan to make changes to your business as a result of the tariffs? What concerns you more about the effect of the tariffs on your own business? Which issue is most important to you when thinking about who to vote for in the upcoming midterm elections? Do you have any positions that have been open for at least 3 months that you have been unable to fill? Which is most important to your business? Do you have any positions that have been open for at least 3 months that you have been unable to fill? Regardless of your company’s experience, many small businesses say they are having trouble filling skilled positions. Why do you feel that is the case? (Select all that apply)
*businesses
