NFIB Says Qualified Job Applicants Often Scarce

Washington, DC, Jan. 6, 2012 -- Qualified job applicants are difficult for many small businesses to find, according to the National Federation of Independent Business.

According to the NFIB, more than a third of the employers in its survey reported finding few or no qualified applicants for open positions.

Nevertheless, hiring plans appear to be pointing in the right direction, according to William Dunkelberg, the group's chief economist.

Small firms employ about half of all private sector employees.