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Health care costs are rising for employers, but many hesitate to cut benefits

Nov 5, 2024
Workers' contributions follow trend of wages and inflation, but in a weaker labor market, businesses will have more leeway to reduce spending.

Democratic National Convention not the pick-me-up hoped for by Chicago area businesses

Aug 21, 2024
Restaurants near the DNC taking place in downtown Chicago were hoping for a shot in the arm from the event, but some are discouraged.

Small businesses see wage pressure easing

May 1, 2024
While the labor market is still tight, some owners aren’t feeling like they need to hike pay as much as they did earlier in the pandemic.

Small businesses are still struggling to hire. But the situation's improving.

Sep 1, 2023
The good news: The lowest proportion of small businesses since March 2021 reported having trouble hiring. The bad news: It's still 40%.

The pandemic forced small businesses to evolve. PPP loans helped many of them do it.

Aug 30, 2022
More than two years after the program kicked off, Marketplace checked in with a few PPP recipients to see how business has been going.

For public good, not for profit.

Re-branding ... and re-discovering a love of gelato 

May 24, 2022
“Sometimes my husband jokes that I’m running a gelato non-profit, and it certainly does feel that way,” said Uli Nasibova, owner of Uli’s Gelato.
Jean Marie Biele

Small businesses are having a hard time attracting and keeping workers

May 4, 2022
Because bigger businesses can offer more.
Small businesses with fewer than 50 employees lost 120,000 jobs in April.
Joe Raedle/Getty Images

Banks are pushing more business loans. Some business owners aren’t sure they want them.

Apr 27, 2022
In the words of one business owner: "Why would I want to go into any type of expansion?"
Though commercial lending is starting to pick back up, some small businesses still have cash on hand from government relief programs.
Justin Sullivan/Getty Images