NFIB’s July Jobs Report shows the Small Business Employment Index rose in July after four consecutive months of decline, reaching 102.1 after measuring 100.2 in June. In July, 36 percent of small business owners, seasonally adjusted, reported job openings they could not fill, up 4 percentage points from June and the highest reading since June 2025. Hiring plans suggest that small business owners are expecting a surge in business that will require more workers. NFIB Alabama Director Rosemary Elebash said the national trends mirror concerns among Alabama small business owners. “These national trends reflect the concerns we hear from small business owners here in Alabama,” Elebash said.