America’s rural economy is feeling the strain of a tight labor market. While U.S. agricultural exports continue to support more than a million jobs nationwide, many small-town businesses—especially in farming, construction, and local services—still struggle to hire qualified workers. Recent reports from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the NFIB, and the USDA highlight the paradox: jobs are growing, but finding the right people to fill them remains a challenge.
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Rural Businesses Still Struggle To Fill Job Openings
The U.S. economy added just 22,000 jobs in August, showing little change from earlier in the summer, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
While growth continues, the National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) reports that hiring remains a significant challenge, particularly for small firms in rural communities. NFIB’s September survey found 32 percent of small business owners still have job openings they cannot fill—unchanged from August and near historic highs.
For rural employers, labor shortages often have a greater impact. Many small-town businesses depend on a limited workforce pool, and competition with larger employers in nearby cities can drain skilled workers. In agriculture, construction, and local services, job postings are going unfilled despite owners offering higher wages. NFIB reports 31 percent of small businesses raised pay in September, yet half of those hiring said they saw few or no qualified applicants.
While owners remain cautiously optimistic—with 16 percent planning to create jobs in the next three months—the imbalance between available positions and qualified applicants continues to stress rural economies. Labor quality and labor costs remain among the top challenges, alongside broader economic uncertainty.
U.S. Ag Exports Support More Than One Million Jobs
U.S. agricultural exports provide more than trade value—they generate significant employment across farming, processing, marketing, and transportation. In 2023, exports valued at $175.5 billion supported an estimated 1.05 million full-time civilian jobs nationwide, according to the USDA’s Economic Research Service.
Using its agricultural trade multiplier, ERS calculates that every $1 billion of U.S. farm and food exports supports approximately 5,997 jobs across both farm and non-farm sectors.
The top 10 export commodities accounted for nearly half of this employment, supporting 503,099 jobs. Soybeans led all categories, supporting 136,012 jobs, followed by corn at 76,504 and beef at 73,482. Pork exports supported 56,777 jobs, while chicken contributed another 27,176. Cotton, wheat, and soybean meal each supported more than 28,000 jobs combined, while almonds and distillers’ dried grains rounded out the top 10. Together, soybean and corn exports alone accounted for over 212,000 jobs, underscoring their central role in U.S. agricultural trade and rural employment.
