NFIB State Director Annie Spilman released the following statement today in response to the Texas Workforce Commission’s announcement that it will provide child care funding to low-income parents who work in the service industry:
“Our members applaud the commission’s decision to provide additional assistance to these parents of young children. Shops and restaurants are really struggling right now to find enough people to work. Too many small businesses are having to limit services and reduce hours and days of operation because they’re understaffed. Providing 12 months of free child care to low-income parents who work in the service sector will allow more people to return to work and help small businesses and large companies alike recover from the downturn.”
A recent NFIB survey of small business owners nationwide found that about 45% of employers are experiencing a significant to moderate staffing shortage while 49% say they are receiving fewer applications than they did a month earlier. Seventy-seven percent reported increasing wages to attract more job seekers, while 17% had increased paid time off, 16% offered or enhanced hiring bonuses, 18% offered or enhanced referral bonuses, and another 21% offered or enhanced health insurance benefits.
