Alison Schuch owns Fells Point Surf Co., with locations in Maryland and Delaware. As summer arrives, Schuch is down about ten workers at her two beach locations as a perfect storm of reasons drive a post-pandemic hiring crunch. With summer hiring season in full swing, small business owners like Schuch have lingering concerns about filling roles to meet consumer demand. Labor quality was the most important problem for nearly a quarter of National Federation of Independent Business members surveyed in May, according to the small business advocacy organization. While owners have concerns about future business conditions and a potential recession, they're still trying to hire and raise wages to entice workers.

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Persons: Alison Schuch, Schuch, It's, they're, Brendan McCluskey, he's, McCluskey Organizations: Co, Dewey, Goods, Labor, National Federation of Independent Business, Trident Builders Locations: Maryland, Delaware, Fells Point , Maryland, Dewey Beach , Delaware, Bethany Beach , Delaware, Baltimore , Maryland