According to several recent surveys, most small business owners around the country do not plan to hire due to the uncertain economic outlook. The 2011 U.S. Bank Small Business Annual Survey showed that while small business owners are seeing some signs of improvement, they remain cautious about the future, with economic uncertainty being their biggest concern (followed by poor sales and federal regulations). As a result, 70 percent of small business owners surveyed expect to keep staffing levels the same over the next 12 months, with only 22 percent planning to hire.
Parts of the HVAC industry seem to be trending in the opposite direction, however, as many contractors say they are planning to hire over the next 12 months — if they can find the qualified people.