US Chamber · 24 Sep, 14:56 · Business briefing

Introducing the Justworks and U.S. Chamber Small Business Index

The US Chamber of Commerce has launched a new collaborative index with Justworks, designed to track the health and growth of small businesses across the United States.

What it means for you ↓ Courses for this story

26%average salary uplift after a professional certificate

2.7xfaster promotion for certified professionals

71%of leaders prefer candidates who upskill continuously

20days to your first credential

The briefing

The story
in brief.

What happened, who it affects, and why it landed on our intelligence desk — in plain English, sixty seconds or less.

The US Chamber of Commerce has launched a new collaborative index with Justworks, designed to track the health and growth of small businesses across the United States. This tool aims to provide real-time insights into economic conditions affecting smaller enterprises, offering a nuanced view beyond traditional macroeconomic indicators. For professionals, this signals a heightened focus on the operational realities of small firms, which employ a significant portion of the workforce. The index will likely influence policy discussions and corporate strategies regarding labour markets, hiring trends, and economic resilience in the current climate.

Employer demand for Business And Management skills — indexed growth since 2019
Indicative index of skill mentions in professional job postings for the field this story moves (2019 = 1)

Your move

What this means
for your career.

Every headline redistributes opportunity. Here is who this one rewards — and how to be on the right side of it.

You must now pay closer attention to small business dynamics, as they drive much of the current job market. Skills in financial agility and lean management are rising in value, given the economic pressures highlighted by this index. You should focus on understanding how smaller organisations adapt to volatility. A smart professional would upskill in areas that help small firms optimise costs and retain talent. Prioritise learning about efficient resource allocation and strategic planning. Consider specialising in roles that support business continuity and growth in SMEs. By aligning your expertise with these needs, you position yourself as an asset to resilient, growing companies navigating complex economic landscapes.

For this story, the fields that convert it into pay are Business And Management, Finance and Accounting, Human Resources and Small Business Marketing — exactly the programmes matched below. The chart shows the indicative salary uplift certified professionals report in each of those fields; every one of them is a click away, from £79, finishing in as few as 20 days.

Indicative salary uplift in the fields matched to this story
Indicative ranges from published continuing-education salary studies, by field — each field is a recommended course below

Matched to this story

Enrol in these
to benefit.

These programmes position you for exactly this shift — online, self-paced, and finishing with a verifiable certificate you can share the day you pass.