According to a recent survey by the U.S. Census Bureau, Georgia's small businesses did a better job of navigating the COVID-19 pandemic than those of most states. 

Only 22.2% of small businesses in Georgia reported experiencing a “large negative effect” due to COVID, compared to 25.2% nationally, as reported by The Center Square. The census bureau conducted its small business pulse survey the week of June 28-July 4, The Center Square reported. 

The survey measured the changing business conditions caused by the pandemic by collecting information on small business operations and finances, requests and receipt of assistance, vaccines, capital expenditures and their expectations for recovery, The Center Square said. 

Nearly a quarter of Georgia businesses said the COVID-19 crisis had little to no effect on their business, which the U.S. Census Bureau study said was higher than the national average.

"Georgia's businesses’ expectations for the future were also more optimistic than the national average, with almost half of businesses reporting that they have either returned to a normal level of operations or there was little to no effect on operations in the first place," the bureau reported. "The amount of businesses saying that it will take over six months to return to normal levels of operation was about 5% below the national average."  

Georgia had fewer COVID-related restrictions than most other states, according to a WalletHub report conducted by top U.S. research universities.

The Center Square says most states are having trouble finding people to take jobs as 89% of small businesses nationwide reported they had difficulties filling open positions last month, according to a new National Federation of Independent Business jobs report.