The Census Bureau has released its Small Business Pulse Survey of U.S. businesses with less than 500
employees.
The 2021 third quarter survey, the most recent, shows that 67% of businesses are still negatively
affected by the pandemic, and nearly a quarter reporting a largely negative effect.
Most businesses still see complete recovery taking at least six additional months.
40% of businesses reported needing to identify and hire new employees, up from 23% a year
ago.
Throughout the pandemic, the food service and hospitality sectors have been most negatively
impacted, with 47% surveyed reporting they are suffering from the effects of the pandemic.
These are followed by the entertainment industry, educational services, and oil and gas.
