The US job market is showing further signs of weakness:
Only 9% of small business owners said in May that they plan to hire over the next 3 months, the lowest since May 2020.
Excluding the 2020 pandemic, this is the lowest reading in 10 years.
Small business hiring plans have trended lower over the last 6 months.
Historically, this has been a leading indicator for nonfarm private payrolls by roughly 4 months.
This comes as small firms account for ~46% of all US private sector employment and suggests that private payroll growth could turn negative as early as Q3.
Hiring demand among small firms is weakening.