Market Insights

Hiring is gaining momentum with 57% of small and mid-size business CEOs planning to increase headcount within the next 12 months.

One in five employees (19%) believe salaries for new hires will be lower compared to 2025.

The Beveridge curve warns of an unemployment uptick even as headline data show stability.

HR compliance, particularly in terms of technology, has become too complex for most organizations to navigate alone.

“Small businesses have navigated a year filled with challenges, from tariffs and inflation to a prolonged government shutdown – yet their optimism remains unwavering,” says Larry Franco, Comerica Bank Executive Vice President and National Director of Retail & Small Business Banking.

Essentials, not luxuries, are driving every day strain. According to the survey, 65% of respondents said the cost of everyday necessities is their top financial stressor.