NEW YORK, July 16, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- A growing shortage of AI-skilled talent in the U.S., compounded by tightening immigration policies, is forcing small and medium-size businesses (SMBs) to rethink how and where they hire, according to a new report released today by Multiplier, the global exchange for work, featuring data and analysis from the recent TriNet (NYSE: TNET) State of the Workplace report.
The report, The Global Talent Squeeze, commissioned by Multiplier, includes data from a survey of 500 business decision-makers in senior-level roles. Key findings include:
87% of U.S.-based SMBs surveyed now consider global hiring a necessity, rather than a strategic advantage.
60% of respondents say the rise of AI is accelerating demand for expertise they don't currently have in-house.
76% of SMBs say that H-1B visa restrictions are directly affecting workforce planning, forcing a pivot to remote-first hiring.
"Talent has never been confined to one geography but, until now, most smaller companies lacked the infrastructure for finding the right talent outside of their zip code," said Multiplier Co-Founder and CEO Sagar Khatri. "We're seeing a fundamental shift, where businesses are hiring talent where they live, rather than trying to move them. While it makes hiring more complex in terms of compliance, payroll, and workforce management, the opportunities for innovation, growth, and scalability that global hiring brings show there is real value in making the change."
For smaller organizations without dedicated HR resources, the challenge is particularly difficult to manage. Only 21% of SMBs report proactively managing cross-border compliance, while nearly 25% say they frequently struggle to meet regulatory requirements, per the report. This is almost double the rate reported by larger companies. Additionally, 82% of these businesses say they have failed, or expect to fail, to onboard a global hire due to compliance, tax, or regulatory hurdles. As regulatory scrutiny increases, navigating employment laws across jurisdictions is also becoming more complex and more consequential.
Record-high H-1B costs and growing immigration backlogs have also pushed traditional domestic sponsorship out of reach for many, as over three-quarters of SMBs say H-1B restrictions are directly affecting workforce planning. Despite this pressure, most small businesses aren't equipped to hire globally. The talent pools once accessed through H-1B sponsorship remain just as relevant, but without the right infrastructure, employers are left scrambling.