The Hiring Squeeze Won't Quit — and 2027 Health Rates Bite

Hiring is still brutal: a third of owners can't fill open roles, and labor quality is back at the top of the worry list — Alex explains why speed beats salary right now. Then some rare optimism, as the NFIB index climbs toward its long-run average and owners start moving on paused investments. Plus 2027 health premiums arrive with double-digit increases in several states, and what to ask your broker before renewal. Three stories, five minutes.