FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Thor Stacey, Alaska State Director, thor@thorstaceyassociates.com
Tony Malandra, Senior Media Manager, anthony.malandra@nfib.org

JUNEAU, Alaska, June 4, 2026—From NFIB Alaska State Director Thor Stacey on today’s release of the latest monthly Jobs Report from the National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB), showing the Small Business Employment Index remaining essentially flat, registering 100.3 in May after measuring 100.4 in April. This is the third consecutive month the Index declined. The current reading is now below the 2025 average of 101.2, but still slightly above the historical average of 100.0.

“Right now, the small business economy could use some stabilizing help from state legislatures across the country and from Congress. I encourage Alaska’s congressional delegation to build on their success in making the 20% Small Business Deduction permanent by permanently repealing the unconstitutional beneficial ownership reporting mandate. Peace of mind and the ability to more accurately plan for the future are what is needed most.”

From NFIB Chief Economist Bill Dunkelberg

“Labor costs increased significantly to the highest reading in the survey’s history. Small business owners are facing mounting pressure to retain workers, and many firms are navigating costly new state mandates. While current conditions restrict Main Street’s already-thin profit margins, compensation measures remain steady for now.”

Highlights from the Latest NFIB Jobs Report

• Labor costs increased to the highest reading in history for the survey’s question about business challenges. Fourteen percent of business owners reported labor costs as their single most important problem, up 5 points from April.
• A seasonally adjusted net 9% of owners plan to create new jobs in the next three months, down 4 points from April and marking the lowest level since May 2020.
• Plans to hire are now below its historical average of a net 11%.
• In May, 13% of small business owners cited labor quality as their single most important problem, down 5 points from April and marking the lowest level since December 2016.

Keep up with the latest Alaska small business news at www.nfib.com. Follow us on X at @NFIB_AK.

###

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 Alaska
Box 211231
907-723-1494
Juneau, AK 99821
www.nfib.com
X: @NFIB.AK