New Billo data shows Meta ad competition rising about 40% and the cost to reach 1,000 impressions climbing roughly 18% between August and the November Black Friday peak. Brands that wait until fall to plan their campaigns enter an auction that is already crowded and expensive, with the outcome largely shaped by creative built weeks earlier. Black Friday and Cyber Monday … [More]
Hiring Disconnect Grows as 44% of Companies Report Unfilled Jobs
The hiring process itself may be getting in the way of filling open jobs, as U.S. companies report more unfilled roles, longer timelines and positions closing without a hire while job seekers say automated systems are making it harder to feel heard, according to a newly released Express Employment Professionals-Harris Poll survey. The disconnect comes as 44% of U.S. hiring … [More]
The Small Business Talent Crunch Is Making Hiring a Global Decision
Small businesses continue to struggle to find qualified workers. In June 2026, 84% of small business owners hiring or trying to hire reported receiving few or no qualified applicants, according to the National Federation of Independent Business. That pressure can make nearby international markets appear to be a quick geographic solution. But choosing a country before defining … [More]
Small Business Confidence Surges as Hiring Plans Reach Four-Year High
The NFIB Small Business Optimism Index rose 2.4 points in July to 99.8, rising above its 52-year average of 98.0. This marks the highest level since August 2025. Of the 10 Optimism Index components, eight increased, and two decreased. Hiring plans improved substantially and contributed most to the rise in the Index. Real sales expectations and reports of inventory levels as … [More]
Small Businesses Prepare to Hire at Fastest Pace in Nearly Four Years
NFIB’s July Jobs Report shows that the Small Business Employment Index rose after four consecutive months of decline, registering 102.1 in July after measuring 100.2 in June. The current reading is above the 2025 average of 101.2 and the historical average of 100.0. In July, 36% (seasonally adjusted) of small business owners reported job openings they could not fill, up 4 … [More]
Arizona Sees 51% Increase in Job Losses over Two Decades
New research reveals which states have seen the biggest increase in businesses cutting jobs since 2000, with only three states actually seeing a reduction in the number of job losses since 2000. The study, conducted by DOKKA, an accounting automation software company, tracked the number of private sector establishments losing jobs from the BLS Business Employment Dynamics … [More]
What Great Managers Do Before Problems Escalate
I have spent more than 25 years training managers at companies like Pfizer, Deloitte and Amway, and if I had to name the one skill that separates managers who grow from managers who stall, it would be this: the willingness to have the conversation they are dreading. Every manager has one. The team member who keeps missing deadlines. The high performer whose attitude is … [More]
Their Take: Arizona Employers Could Feel Ripple Effects of Immigration Enforcement
a Intensified immigration enforcement would not create more job opportunities for U.S.-born Arizonans. It would eliminate thousands of them while weakening businesses, household finances, and local economies across the state, according to a new analysis from the Immigration Research Initiative. The analysis models the effects of ICE arresting 1% of immigrants considered … [More]
Arizona’s $109-Billion-Year: A Record-Setting FY2026
Fiscal Year 2026 (FY26) marked the most successful year for economic development in Arizona’s history. During the 12‑month period ending June 30, 2026, the Arizona Commerce Authority and local economic development partners worked with companies that committed to creating 26,225 projected new Arizona jobs and investing more than $109 billion into communities statewide — both … [More]
Their Take: Great Companies Need More Than Recognition
As BestCompaniesAZ celebrates its 25th anniversary, I’ve spent time reflecting on the journey, the partnerships, and the mission that continues to guide us today. Over the years, many people have come to know BestCompaniesAZ through the workplace awards and recognition programs we’ve helped introduce, support, and elevate throughout Arizona. “Oh, you’re the awards … [More]
What Arizona SMBs Need to Know about Financing in Today’s Economy
As Arizona small businesses head into the second half of the year, ongoing inflation continues to reinforce a K-shaped economy as AI adoption generates a reduction in demand for labor, faster than the economy can create new jobs. While inflation is impacting all Arizona consumers across nearly all goods, it is not impacting all Arizonans equally. The wealthy minority are … [More]
Workforce Access Starts with Accessible Higher Education
Each July, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) anniversary offers an important opportunity to reflect on the progress made in expanding access and opportunity for people with disabilities. At the same time, it is also a reminder of how much work remains, particularly in education. Higher education is often where opportunity either expands or narrows, shaping students' … [More]
Why K-12 Partnerships Matter to Arizona’s Workforce Future
Arizona business leaders talk often about workforce development. We need skilled employees, stronger pipelines and communities that can compete for the jobs of tomorrow. Those conversations usually begin at the college or career level. They should begin much earlier—in our K-12 schools. New research from Harvard's Graduate School of Education examined more than 1,550 … [More]
Small Business Hiring Stays Flat as Unfilled Openings Rise
NFIB’s June Jobs Report shows that the Small Business Employment Index remained essentially flat, registering 100.2 in June after measuring 100.3 in May. This is the fourth consecutive month the Index declined. The current reading is below the 2025 average of 101.2 but still slightly above the historical average of 100.0. In June, 32% (seasonally adjusted) of small business … [More]
How Commercial Real Estate’s Talent Drain Is Hitting NOI
Commercial real estate is bleeding talent. According to industry-standard research by CEL & Associates and the National Apartment Association, annual turnover in property management exceeds 32 percent, a systemic infrastructure failure that drains net operating income (NOI) across both commercial and multifamily portfolios. With property management facing an … [More]
The Hidden $15B Market Powering the Modern Internet
For years, the technology world obsessed over cryptocurrencies, NFTs, SPACs, and AI startups raising hundreds of millions of dollars before shipping a product. Meanwhile, one of the largest infrastructure markets on the internet matured with almost no public attention. The global secondary market for IPv4 addresses is now worth an estimated $15 billion. Until … [More]
Three Questions Every Business Owner Should Ask Before Selling
With tariffs, oil price volatility and ongoing geopolitical tensions dominating the news cycle, many business owners are asking the same question: Is now a good time to sell? According to Mark Herbick, founder and CEO of middle-market advisory firm Pursant LLC, the answer depends far less on headlines than most owners assume. “A lot of people think that because of the things … [More]
Arizona Businesses More Bullish Than National Peers
Nearly 70% of Arizona businesses say they are prioritizing making investments over cutting costs, according to new data released today by Columbia Bank. At the same time, half of Arizona business leaders say they plan to monitor current pressures from tariffs, inflation and rising energy costs for at least six months before making major decisions. The findings are … [More]
