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So far, small and mid-sized business-owners across the country are muscling through this labor market moment — all while facing new tariffs, edgy consumers, high gas and diesel prices, and high overall inflation.
After years of managing other people’s manufacturing operations in Chicago, Jim Piper took a leap in April and bought his own. Worldwide Broach does precision metal-cutting for industries like hydraulics and auto manufacturing.
The company has six full-time employees — most of them are skilled tradespeople who were with the previous owner for decades.
“It’s something that’s difficult to automate away, or outsource overnight,” Piper said.
He’s confident he can build the business up, since demand is reasonably strong.
“We have capacity in the shop that’s underutilized. I just need the next order, and perhaps another employee or two,” he said.
In Austin, Texas, restaurant owner Adam Orman has been having a rough time of it.
“Summer in Austin is slow. We’ve been doing a pay-what-you-will night since December, and expanded that, and it definitely keeps us busy enough on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday that we have a reason to have employees,” he said. | 
