Thank You for Your Participation!

We’re excited to share the results of the 2025 National Business Trends Survey. Your input has helped identify the opportunities and challenges businesses like yours are facing in the year ahead.


Key Takeaways

• Optimism is Growing: 78% of businesses expect the U.S. economy to improve or remain steady, a significant increase from last year’s 67%.
• Workforce Challenges Dominate: Talent acquisition, retention, and the ability to offer competitive wages are the top concerns for employers in 2025.
• What Employees Want: Competitive pay (83%), work-life balance (75%), and flexibility (55%) rank as the most important factors for attracting and keeping top talent.

These insights highlight the critical importance of strategic workforce planning and staying ahead of industry trends.


Key Talent Challenges for 2025

Despite the overall positive outlook, the survey has identified three main challenges that businesses expect to face:

• 1. Talent Acquisition
• 2. Talent Retention
• 3. Ability to Pay Competitive Wages

The importance of human capital management has never been more apparent as businesses navigate these ongoing workforce challenges. Professional staff (non-managerial) positions remain the most difficult to recruit (45%) and retain (31%).

A Spotlight on Long-Term Business Challenges

Looking beyond immediate hiring and retention, the survey also highlights some serious long-term challenges facing businesses:

• Cybersecurity (54%) – Although identified as the top concern, only 23% of businesses plan to invest in data security in 2025.
• Talent Acquisition (47%)
• Developing Future Leaders (42%)
• Talent Retention (41%)
• Ability to Pay Competitive Wages and Salaries (38%)

These insights indicate a disconnect between the recognition of cybersecurity threats and the planned investments to mitigate these risks, signaling an area that demands further attention.


Why the National Business Trends Survey Matters

The National Business Trends Survey is more than just a collection of statistics. It offers comprehensive insights for government agencies, policymakers, and employers by shedding light on the business climate, workforce readiness, and key economic trends. This data helps:

• Enable Data-Driven Decisions: Provides valuable information for strategic planning and decision-making.
• Support National Benchmarking: Allows organizations to benchmark against national trends.
• Track Economic Changes Over Time: Offers a clear view of evolving business priorities and challenges.

Get the Full Report
Explore the complete survey results for detailed insights into business outlooks, staffing strategies, pay trends, and more. Use this data to guide your planning and stay competitive in 2025. Thank you for being a vital part of shaping the future of HR and business practices. Your commitment to excellence is the driving force behind the insights we share today.