The NFIB Research Center released the latest quarterly Small Business Economic Trends Industry-specific survey. The survey highlights the construction, manufacturing, retail and services industries. NFIB released previous reports in August and May 2020.

“This year has been challenging for small business owners as they manage their businesses in a time when the COVID-19 pandemic has led to a steady stream of state and local regulations,” said Holly Wade, NFIB Executive Director of Research. “Each industry has been impacted differently from COVID-19. This survey highlights that industries, such as manufacturing, are recovering faster than other industries, including the services sector.”

The Key Findings

Construction:

• The Optimism Index in October was 107.0 for construction firms, up 6.5 points from July’s quarterly report.
• The construction industry is reporting 3 points higher than the overall Index of all firms.
• Construction firms have the highest measure of small business optimism among industries.
• Demand for new construction continues to be driven by record-low interest rates and a shortage of inventory in the real estate market.
• Construction firms are struggling to hire qualified employees to assemble work teams to meet demand.
• Fifty-eight percent of construction firms reported finding new or no qualified applicants for job openings in October.
• A net 34 percent plan to increase their workforce in the next 3 months, up 10 points from July and 16 points higher than all firms.

Manufacturing:

• The Optimism Index in October was 103.1 in manufacturing, a 2.7-point increase from July but slightly below the overall Index.
• The manufacturing industry is still recovering from supply chain disruptions and business closures due to COVID-19.
• Earnings trends this quarter were very strong in manufacturing as a net negative 4 percent of firms reported higher earnings over the last quarter, up 42 points from July’s quarterly report.
• Business owners in manufacturing are less optimistic about sales expectations in the fourth quarter.
• Only a net 8 percent of manufacturing firms expect higher sales, down 9 points from July and about the overall average.
• Manufacturing firms reported a decrease in future employment plans in October. A net 13 percent reported plans to increase their number of employees, down 13 points from July and 5 points below the overall average.

Retail:

• The Optimism Index in October was 103.7 in retail, similar to the overall average of 104.
• A net 12 percent of retailers report current inventory levels as “too low”, compared to 4 percent of all small businesses.
• Retailers are increasing inventory levels as a net 21 percent plan to increase inventories over the next 3 to 6 months, 10 points above all firms, and 9 points compared to the previous quarter.

Services:

• The Optimism Index in October was 103.3 for the services industry, an increase of 6.2 points but still below the overall small business optimism.
• Earnings trends improved 27 points to a net negative 10 percent reporting higher earnings.
• The services industry remains 8 points below overall earnings trends.
• Many firms in the services industry depend more heavily on person-to-person interactions and therefore more negatively impacted by increases in COVID-19 infection rates.

NFIB has conducted a series of surveys on the impact COVID-19 has had on small businesses. The latest survey highlighted that 75 percent of small businesses would apply or consider applying for a second round of Paycheck Protection Program funding, showing that small businesses are still balancing the everyday needs of their business and the COVID-19 pandemic.

The full survey is available here.