The National Federation of Independent Business is thanking Governor Eric Holcomb for ending participation in the federal supplemental unemployment benefits program.

The federal money provides an additional $300 a week in benefits through September. It’s a program that is hurting our small business owners across the state as they face a record level of open jobs that they can’t find qualified workers to fill.

The NFIB recently released their new jobs report that shows a record 44% of small business owners report having job openings they could not fill, 22 points higher than the 48-year historical average, and two points higher than the 42% figure from March. April is the third consecutive month with a record-high reading of unfilled job openings among small businesses.

Indy Politics spoke with NFIB Indiana director Barbara Quandt.

You can hear her in the Leon-Tailored Audio above.  It runs for about 17 minutes.