HOMEBASE DATA REPORTS

Main Street labor conditions steadied in February, with modest improvements following early-year softness. While growth remains subdued compared to prior years, falling turnover and measured hiring suggest small businesses are prioritizing stability over aggressive expansion.

Main Street labor conditions stabilized after the holiday reset, with workforce participation and hours worked tracking last year’s levels. Despite brief weather-related disruptions, sector trends improved and hiring and turnover showed signs of normalization heading into 2026.

Main Street labor conditions weakened further in December as year-end softness deepened. Employees Working fell 0.9% and Hours Worked declined 0.6%, extending November’s sharp pullback. Discretionary industries, led by Hospitality, saw the largest contractions, while Caregiving remained resilient and Retail held steady. Wage growth continued even as hiring and turnover slowed into year-end.

Main Street activity cooled further as seasonal slowdown intensified. Workforce participation fell 2.7% and hours worked dropped 3.1%, marking the steepest declines in three years. Entertainment and Hospitality saw the sharpest pullbacks, while most other sectors softened. Wage growth persisted but at a slower pace, with Health Care and Professional Services the few exceptions. Hiring remained weak after earlier over-staffing, and turnover edged up slightly but stayed well below summer peaks.

Main Street businesses continued to cool in October as seasonal trends persisted. Workforce participation slipped 2.9% and hours worked fell 2.6%, reflecting a typical post-summer slowdown. The Southeast was the only region to hold steady, while Entertainment saw the sharpest industry contraction and Hospitality remained resilient. Despite slower activity, wages climbed 42% above early 2022 levels, and labor turnover stayed elevated even as hiring eased.

Employee activity slipped in September as Main Street businesses navigated a deeper seasonal slowdown. The Northeast and Midwest led regional declines, while Entertainment and Hospitality saw sharp seasonal pullbacks. Despite softer hiring and elevated turnover, wages rose across all sectors, pushing costs nearly 40% above pre-2022 levels.

Employee activity fell sharply in August, matching seasonal patterns. Entertainment, Caregiving, and Home & Repair saw steep drops, while turnover spiked to a multi-year high. Increased hiring pointed to widespread backfilling, not expansion.

Employee activity declined in July amid typical mid-summer slowdown, though losses were milder than in 2024. Entertainment and hospitality led industry gains, while personal services and retail continued to lag. Wage growth persisted despite sharp hiring cuts, as businesses prioritized retention.

Employee activity rose in June but remained below prior-year levels, reflecting a slower seasonal ramp. Entertainment and Home & Repair led industry gains, though momentum softened from past summers.

Workforce engagement and employee activity held steady in April, following seasonal hiring trends seen in past years.

Workforce engagement held steady, Entertainment and Home & Repair led hiring, and Midwest/Northeast saw business growth. Wages rose modestly as labor costs increased.

Employee activity rose above previous years, with strong growth in Entertainment and Home & Repair. Midwest and Northeast led regional gains. Wages stabilized, with retail seeing a slight boost.

Employee activity dipped slightly, while retail and caregiving saw holiday boosts. Wages increased modestly. Turnover and hiring dropped as SMBs maintained steady rosters through season’s end.

Retail and Food & Drink drove wage growth. Holiday staffing drove upticks in hiring and turnover. Beauty & Wellness and Medical & Veterinary led industry growth amid Southeast’s rebound.

Employee activity slowed across most regions. Hurricanes hurt the Southeast, while Entertainment saw a sharper decline than usual. Hospitality posted a small gain. Wages and rosters stayed flat.

Workforce activity softened but was stronger than last year. Midwest and Northeast experienced weather-related dips. Hourly wages rose steadily, while hiring and turnover flattened after August.

Employee activity and hours worked declined across all regions. Entertainment saw the sharpest drop as schools reopened. Meanwhile, wages rose across all sectors, driving up labor costs.

Employee activity hit a three-year low, with the Southwest hardest hit. Entertainment and Hospitality performed best among slowing industries.