The current economy is bringing some good news and bad news to small business owners.
The bad news: Inflation continues to impact American's buying power, including the buying power of small businesses. According to Dawn McVea, Louisiana state director for the National Federation of Independent Business, inflation is threatening their ability to survive.
"This inflation is just not easing, and it's not giving them a good outlook on the future," McVea said to WWL's Tommy Tucker. "They're strugging, still. Just like the everyday consumer the cost of doing business--the cost of going out and shopping for the needs you have--have gone up."
The good news: Finding employees is getting easier.
"We are seeing the job market improve," McVea said. "I spoke with a retailer just last week who said he was so excited that he was able to hire three people and that he had enough people to interview just to get to that point."
Despite the uptick in employees seeking work, McVea says the quality of workers seeking employment leaves something to be desired.
"The expectations in the labor quality still remain a bit of a challenge, but I think things will start to fall back into place and make it easier for small business owners to find employees," McVea said.
McVea says small business owners here are keeping a close eye on what Congress and other national leaders do to help ease the economic strain on small businesses.
"What goes on in DC affects how they view the future," McVea said.
