There is a disconnect between the tools individuals can use to showcase their fitness for a job and the technology used to include that information in formalized hiring and talent management practices. This work investigates the awareness, attitudes and adoption of skills-based HR tech specific to small businesses.
What: Data Collection and Deliverables
Econometric analysis resulting in a typology of small-to-mid-sized businesses of interest to the opportunity ecosystem
Field research/interviews with each business type to identify their different pain points/solution sets
Nationally representative survey to document the prevalence and distribution of technology adoption across this population
When: Timeline and Status
Interviews & persona development: Fall 2025
Survey & Final Reports: Spring 2026
A New Dimension to the Small Business Segmentation For Talent Management Research
September 2025
This paper presents a segmentation framework that moves beyond headcount metrics to reflect the strategic, cultural, and operational characteristics that drive distinct hiring practices within the SMB sector.
