Can't Fill the Role? What Small Businesses Are Doing in 2026
J. DubanUpdated August 25, 2026 · 6 min
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If you've had a role open for weeks, you're not alone. In September 2026, 32% of US small business owners reported job openings they couldn't fill, well above the historical average of 24%. Earlier in the year, finding qualified workers topped owners' list of problems.
Why are small business roles staying open?
Mostly because qualified applicants aren't showing up. In mid-2026, most small businesses that were hiring reported few or no qualified applicants for their openings. Small firms compete with larger employers on pay and benefits, often without an HR team to run the process, and the owner ends up screening résumés at night.
What does an unfilled role actually cost?
More than most owners count:
- The work doesn't stop. It lands on you or on your best people, who then burn out.
- Revenue slips. Leads go cold, invoices go out late, customers wait.
- Hiring itself costs money. Direct recruiting spend for a non-executive US hire averages about $5,475, before your own interview time.
- Your time is the most expensive line. Every hour you spend doing a $25-an-hour task is an hour not spent selling or leading.
What are owners doing instead of waiting?
Five options, each with honest trade-offs:
| Option | Works well when | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|
| Raise pay and re-post | The role must be local and on site | Cost, and you may still wait weeks |
| Use a US staffing agency | You need someone quickly for a short period | Agency mark-ups; temps rotate |
| Hire a freelancer | The work is project-based or part-time | Screening, reliability and continuity are on you |
| Use AI tools | The work is mostly drafting and data handling | Someone still has to own the outcome |
| Hire a dedicated offshore professional | The role is full-time back-office work that can be done remotely | Choose a provider that vetts properly and lets you interview |
Many owners combine two of these: AI for drafting, plus a full-time person to own the work.
Which roles are easiest to fill remotely?
Roles where the work happens in software, email and on the phone: executive and admin assistants, bookkeeping and AP/AR, customer service, sales support and appointment setting, operations and order processing, and real estate coordination. Roles that need hands on site, or a US license for the core work, are harder.
How fast can a remote hire actually start?
It depends on the role and on how the provider recruits. A good provider will already be screening for your role while you're still deciding, and will show you a short list of interviewed candidates rather than a pile of résumés. At StaffRight, we screen over 300 applicants for each role and you typically meet about three strong candidates before choosing one.
What should you do this week?
- Write down the tasks the open role would take off your plate, with hours per week.
- Split them into on-site, remote, and AI-suitable.
- Price each option for the remote part, using full costs, not just salary.
- Decide by next week. Every week the role stays open has a cost.
FAQ
Why can't small businesses find workers?
Fewer qualified applicants, competition from larger employers on pay and benefits, and limited time to recruit. In 2026, labour quality ranks among owners' top problems.
Is it risky to hire someone remotely?
It can be if you hire blind. Interview the person yourself, check how the provider verifies identity and skills, and make sure there's a replacement guarantee.
What roles can I fill with offshore staff?
Full-time roles done on a computer and phone: admin, bookkeeping, customer service, sales support, operations and coordination.
If the open role can be done remotely, the cost calculator shows what a full-time hire would cost.
