NFIB State Director Jerrod Shouse released the following statement today in response to Governor Stitt’s State of the State address:

“Our small business members truly appreciate Governor Stitt’s commitment to make Oklahoma ‘the most business-friendly state in the nation’ by addressing supply chain disruptions and a lack of qualified job applicants.

“Eighty-seven percent of small business owners nationwide say supply chain disruptions have impacted their businesses, while 57% report few or no qualified applicants for the positions they’re trying to fill.

“Oklahoma’s innovative platform to help repair the supply chain by linking buyers and sellers will go a long way toward ensuring that businesses have the goods and supplies their customers need, when they need it. And the governor’s commitment to apprenticeships and pledge to reward universities for producing graduates in critical areas such as nursing will create opportunities for young people just entering the workforce and help employers find people with the skills they need.”