Small Business Hiring Thaws — But Labor Costs Hit an All-Time High

The Paychex Small Business Jobs Index just hit its best reading of 2026, and new data shows the labor market is slowly thawing for small employers. But NFIB data also shows labor cost concerns at an all-time high — and nearly a million new grads are actively looking at small businesses first. Alex breaks down what the data means for your hiring and retention decisions this week.