92% of Small Business Owners in Massachusetts Are Struggling To Find Qualified Hires

Woah. That is a startlingly high number. According to a new report by the National Federation of Independent Business, 92% of small business owners say they're struggling to find qualified applicants for open positions, making operating their small business extremely difficult.

Personally, just this past weekend I talked to an owner of a local restaurant that I love who just sold his restaurant because hiring and staff-management had become way too much to deal with, calling it "a nightmare scenario."

Some fear that since Massachusetts is a comparatively expensive state that businesses will move away from the Bay State. Because of the same "Mass is expensive" reasoning, potential workers moving away to head to a more affordable state is becoming part of the issue as well.

A.I. is bugging everybody out right now. Some think it's amazingly cool. Some think it'll be the end of humanity as we know it. Some think both. I decided to see just how well artificial intelligence knows us, Massachusetts residents. Turns out, better than I thought actually.

I was hoping for some funny stereotypes on the list. There were some, but as I sat and thought about each I regularly came back to, "hmmm... I guess I do have a lot of friends who really like that."

A.I. definitely knows we like our sports - Boston Red Sox, Celtics, and New England Patriots were all in the first 5 things mentioned. (Boston Bruins didn't even get a mention! A.I. must think we're still very salty with how that season ended.) Sam Adams Beer, clam chowder, Cape Cod, and Fenway Park all made the list as well - just to give you an idea of what we're talking about here.

Here are 14 of the more offbeat items A.I. listed as things people in Massachusetts like more than people in other states:

Do we really eat more Boston Cream than anybody else? I mean, I know "Boston" is in the name but... wait, I remember talking to a local donut maker who told me that they go through a ridiculous amount of Boston Cream cream so the shoe probably fits.

A.I. thinks we just sit around and gossip about the molasses flood.... from over a hundred years ago? But I guess we do like it more than people from other states since they probably have no idea it ever happened. Unless they're good at Jeopardy!

I mean, it's the pride of Lynn isn't it? And it's definitely attributed to more cavities in my head than it should have so.... great pick A.I.!

This is the only shopping area that made A.I.'s list, officially making it A.I.'s favorite mall in Massachusetts. So if you see an empty seat at the food court inside South Shore Plaza in Braintree DON'T SIT THERE!!! It's probably A.I. sitting there.

Another great pick. If you grew up in Massachusetts there's a good chance you had a field trip here. Epic.

Bogs for days. Plus who doesn't love "Linger?" It's a JAM!

Here's the first WTF to me on the list. Can anyone explain why we would like Minute Maid Park more than people from other states, like for example someone from.... Texas? I'm sure A.I. is onto something and knows more than my foggy human brain but someone fill me in. Thanks.

I don't eat enough baked beans but everytime I do? Mmm mmm!!! Damn right A.I.!

We do love our lobster rolls. Especially the richy rich people in Mass. However Maine thinks our rolls are trash.

We do get to experience some pretty nice foliage around here. Sometimes on my way to work I get mesmerized by it actually. I doubt people in Missouri ever feel that way about leaves on trees.

"Candlepins For Cash" babyyyyyyyy!!!

Yankee Candle Company was started in South Hadley, Massachusetts and I probably have 4 of them burning in my house right now. Don't worry, my wife is home.

Is it US who loves the whale watching more than people in other states? Or is it people from other states who like to go whale watching when they come here?? Chicken and the egg type stuff right there.

Of course Dunkin' made the list!! Not once, not twice, but three times!! Dunkin', Dunkin' iced coffee, and Dunkin' Munchkins all made the list. A.I. also apparently runs on Dunkin'.