BOSTON (State House News Service) — Most Massachusetts small businesses have at least one open job and say it's been at least somewhat difficult to hire to fill those positions, the latest edition of a survey that's taken the small business community's temperature regularly the last four years.

Sixty-one percent of small business executives polled said their company has at least one open position in Massachusetts. An equal percentage said it's been difficult to fill those open jobs (32 percent somewhat difficult, 29 percent very difficult), according to the survey of 1,818 small business leaders conducted between early February and late March by The MassINC Polling Group. And 37 percent of companies said it's been difficult (28 percent somewhat, 9 percent very) to retain their current employees.

"The top two obstacles to hiring are familiar: the high cost of living and the high cost of housing. Those high costs are putting pressure on wages. The third most common challenge to hiring is applicants seeking higher pay than what is being offered," a press release announcing the poll results said. The Coalition for an Equitable Economy commissioned the poll, with sponsorship from Mass Growth Capital Corporation and Eastern Bank Foundation.

The high costs of housing and living in Massachusetts have been top of mind the last two years on Beacon Hill and addressing them is regularly cited by Gov. Maura Healey as her top priority. The Legislature is expected to consider Healey's $4.1 billion housing bond and policy bill later this spring and Attorney General Andrea Campbell is keeping pressure on suburbs near MBTA service to comply with a 2020 law meant to spur badly-needed housing production. And two years after a debate that led to a new surtax on high-income households, faltering tax revenues and a heightened appetite for spending have stoked progressives' frustration about last year's tax cuts.

The cost of living in Massachusetts was cited as an obstacle by 67 percent of companies (42 percent major, 25 percent minor) and 65 percent cited the cost of housing here (42 percent major, 23 percent minor), the survey found. Potential hires wanting more money than is offered was also mentioned as an obstacle by 65 percent of companies (34 percent major, 31 percent minor).

The fourth most significant barrier to hiring and retention cited in the poll was the tax climate in Massachusetts (29 percent major, 28 percent minor), followed by "many workers don’t have the basic skills they need to do the job" rounding out the top five (26 percent major, 28 percent minor). The transportation system making it difficult for potential employees to get to work ranked eighth (15 percent major, 24 percent minor).

Poll sponsors are hosting events to discuss the results, Tuesday in Boston and Thursday in Springfield. Sen. Adam Gomez is scheduled to speak at the event in Springfield.

Written By Colin A. Young/SHNS

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