FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Ronda Wiggers, State Director, rondakwiggers@gmail.com
or Tony Malandra, Senior Media Manager, anthony.malandra@nfib.org

HELENA, Mont., May 8, 2026—From NFIB Montana State Director Ronda Wiggers on yesterday’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.

“The good news in the latest Jobs Report is that even though the April reading stumbled a bit, it still remained above its historic average, which I attribute in part to Congress making the 20% Small Business Deduction permanent and the Montana Legislature in its last session continuing to make our state small business friendlier than most other states.  While these numbers are a national look, Montana’s 3.6% unemployment rate continues to be lower than the 4.3% national average and the Montana Department of Labor reported a decline of over 1,400 people from our statewide workforce in March.  Finding qualified workers continues to be a struggle for Montana small business owners.  When state lawmakers return to Helena next year, their goal should be to continue and strengthen the policies that work for small business.”

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 Montana small business news at www.nfib.com or by following us on X at @NFIB_MT.

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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 Montana
406-899-9659
rondakwiggers@gmail.com
NFIB.com
X: @NFIB_MT