Young business owners plan more hiring than older entrepreneurs

Young business owners in the United States are far more confident than older ones, new data shows. The Q3 2026 Small Business Index found that 46% of Gen Z and millennial owners plan to hire more staff in the next year. Only 19% of baby boomer owners said the same. Younger owners are also more likely to invest more money in their businesses, at 50% compared to 18% of older owners. Across all age groups, hiring plans have fallen. Only 36% of all owners plan to add staff, down from 44% a year ago. Separately, 38% of college students said they are thinking about starting a business. Among younger hiring managers, AI skills are now the top priority, chosen by 37%.