报道还提到，尽管劳动力质量继续被小企业列为首要问题，但雇主对招聘方面的挑战相对乐观，仅有32%的企业认为 无法填补职位空缺；不过，雇主未来三个月的招聘计划小幅下降，这是今年5月以来首次回落。 【环球网财经综合报道】由于盈利恶化以及对经济的乐观情绪减弱，美国10月份的小企业乐观程度指数跌至六个月低 点。全美独立企业联合会（NFIB）星期二（11月11日）发布的小企业乐观程度指数下滑0.6点，至98.2。组成指标的10 个分类指数中，五个下降，四个改善。 《联合早报》发文称，美国企业对经济前景的乐观程度下降也导致整体指数下降，预计未来六个月经济活动会有所改 善的企业减少三个百分点至20%，为今年4月份以来最低。 与此同时，美国"小非农"再度预警。据ADP统计，截至10月25日的四周内，美国私营部门平均每两周减少11250个工作 岗位。累计计算，当月共减少4.5万个工作岗位（不含政府雇员），这将是自2023年3月以来最大的月度就业人数降 幅。 ...

Core Viewpoint - The New South Wales (NSW) government has announced the cancellation of the "Business Connect" program, which provided free support services to small business owners, amidst rising living costs and increasing business challenges [1][3]. Group 1: Impact on Small Businesses - The termination of the "Business Connect" program means that small business owners will lose a crucial support channel for issues like bankruptcy planning [1]. - The program, launched in 2017, has assisted thousands of businesses during economic hardships, and its end leaves no equivalent alternative for support after October 1 [3]. - In the first nine months of the 2024-25 fiscal year, 4,235 businesses have already declared bankruptcy, indicating a significant strain on the small business sector [5]. Group 2: Business Environment Challenges - The business bankruptcy rate reached 0.47% in the first three quarters of the previous fiscal year, the highest level since the 2008-09 financial crisis [5]. - Small businesses are also facing a projected 36% increase in insurance costs over the next three years due to failed reforms in workers' compensation [5]. - Business leaders have criticized the government's decision as short-sighted, arguing it undermines confidence, innovation, and employment in the small business sector [5]. Group 3: Personal Accounts from Business Owners - Small business owners, such as Amjad Hussein from Merrylands, express concerns about the difficulties in maintaining profitability amid rising living costs, particularly during winter [7].