SMB Hiring Plans

How many hires do SMBs plan to make this year? And what roles will they hire? To find out, we recently surveyed 500 U.S. and 100 U.K. SMB principals.

Half of U.S. very small businesses (VSBs, with fewer than 20 employees), don’t plan to make any hires at all. Of those that do, most plan to hire two to four people. The plurality of U.S. small businesses (SBs, with 20 to 99 employees) plan to make five to nine hires. Of U.S. midsized businesses (MBs, with 100 to 500 employees), the plurality plan to hire 10 to 19 people. Like VSBs, roughly half of U.K. SMBs don’t plan to make any hires this year. Of those that do, most plan to make two to four hires.

2024 SMB Hiring Plans

The roles that SMBs will hire vary quite a bit by size. VSBs, MBs, and U.K. SMBs are most likely to hire customer service roles, while SBs are most likely to hire sales and operational roles. After that, VSBs are next most likely to make construction and maintenance hires; SBs, marketing; MBs, finance; and UK SMBs, administration/office management.

Roles that SMBs will Hire in 2024

Looking for actionable SMB insight? Bredin’s global research gives you high-value insights to improve your go-to-market, product, pricing, UX, and other strategies. We also generate uniquely valuable data for high-impact content, PR, social, and sales support programs.