CARSON CITY, Nev., May 7, 2026—From NFIB Nevada State Director Tray Abney on today’s release of the monthly Jobs Report from the National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) showing a softening in the employment market as the Small Business Employment Index fell 1.2 points to 100.4. This is the second month in a row the Index declined. The current reading is now below the 2025 average of 101.2, but slightly above the historical average of 100.0. This decline is indicative of weakening in the labor market, though the just-above-average level still suggests a balanced labor market.

“I never read too much into one month’s Jobs Report finding, unless it slips below the index’s historical average, which April’s did not. It will be interesting to see what NFIB’s Small Business Optimism Index shows when it comes out early next week. What matters most are the state and federal policies that allow small businesses to either weather an economic storm or have a climate to thrive and grow in, which is why this November’s election is so consequential.”

NFIB’s Jobs Report is a national survey of NFIB-member small-business owners, not broken down by state. The NFIB Small Business Employment Index is a new measure of the current state of the small business labor market. The Index integrates actual and planned changes in employment and employee compensation into a singular data point. A higher Index reflects an overall tighter labor market; a lower Index reflects an overall weaker labor market.

From NFIB Chief Economist Bill Dunkelberg

“Even in a month with a weaker Employment Index, over half of small business owners reported hiring or trying to hire. A lack of qualified applicants has been a major hurdle for Main Street, and employers are struggling to fill open positions.”

Highlights from the Latest NFIB Jobs Report

• In April, 34% (seasonally adjusted) of small business owners reported job openings they could not fill, up 2 points from March and the highest level since June 2025.
• Unfilled job openings remain above the historical average of 24%. Twenty-nine percent have openings for skilled workers (up 2 points), and 13% have openings for unskilled labor (up 1 point).
• A seasonally adjusted net 13% of owners plan to create new jobs in the next three months, up 1 point from March and close to the average of net 11%.
• Seasonally adjusted, a net 30% of small business owners reported raising compensation in April, down 3 points from March. A net 18% (seasonally adjusted) plan to raise compensation in the next three months, unchanged from March.

Keep up with the latest Nevada small business news at www.nfib.com or by following NFIB on X @NFIB_NV.

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For over 80 years, NFIB has been advocating on behalf of America’s small and independent business owners, both in Washington, D.C., and in all 50 state capitals. NFIB is a nonprofit, nonpartisan, and member-driven association. Since our founding in 1943, NFIB has been exclusively dedicated to small and independent businesses and remains so today. For more information, please visit nfib.com.

NFIB Nevada
Abney Government Relations
775-443-5561
Reno, NV
NFIB.com
X: @NFIB_NV