4 in 10 Small Business Owners Say Job Openings Are Hard to Fill. Here Are 3 Ways to Attract Talent

You might run a small business -- but that doesn't mean your operation is a one-person show. You may have a staff you rely on to do the many things you either aren't equipped to do or don't have time to do. So when you find yourself unable to fill open positions, it can be extremely challenging.

In September's NFIB Small Business Optimism Index, a good 43% of small business owners reported having job openings that they could not fill. If you're in that boat, here are some changes you can look at making that might help attract more qualified applicants.

1. Offer a superior benefits package

Many companies are able to offer a certain salary. You can go beyond that by offering superior benefits -- perks like fully subsidized health insurance, employer life insurance, and a generous 401(k) match.

Many job applicants these days are savvy enough to look at the big picture and recognize that compensation isn't just salary alone, but rather, a larger package. If you can offer up better benefits than competing businesses, more workers may flock to your business.

2. Be flexible with working hours

If you own a store or eatery that has diners coming in at certain hours, then you may not be able to be all that flexible with your employees' schedule. But let's say you own a marketing firm. Perhaps you need employees to be on hand during some daytime hours to take meetings with clients. But if a lot of the work being done is independent work, it wouldn't hurt to be flexible with your employees' schedules.

Some people may be hesitant to commit to a strict schedule because they have children or other obligations. If you can offer up more leeway and take an "as long as the work gets done" attitude, you may end up attracting more candidates.

3. Be flexible with where employees work from

Restaurant work can't be done remotely. But there are plenty of jobs that can be performed from anywhere, whether it's office space in the middle of a city or the comfort of a person's desk in their basement.

If the nature of your business is conducive to remote work, make it clear that you're open to that arrangement. That could be a selling point for potential applicants who got used to remote work during the pandemic and prefer that to having to commute.

Also, being open to remote work expands your applicant pool. You don't have to be limited to candidates who live within a reasonable distance for commuting purposes. Instead, you could hire someone whose home is 2,000 miles away if you feel they're the best person for the role you're looking to fill.

It's not always easy to fill open positions. And right now, because the labor market is booming and jobs aren't so hard to come by, you may find yourself struggling even more. But if you're able to offer the above perks, you may find that you have more people interested in working for you.