RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK – A new survey finds that many smaller business owners across North Carolina say Facebook is helping them drive revenue while also proving helpful in finding new employees.

The survey, “Examining the Impact of Technology on Small Business: How small businesses use social media and digital platforms to grow, sell, and hire,” was conducted by research firm Morning Consult and published by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.

The survey says there are 871,376 small businesses across North Carolina. These employ 1.6 million people, or 44.8 percent of the state’s workforce.

According to the survey:

  • 55% of SMBs in North Carolina surveyed agree that Facebook is an essential tool for their business
  • 43% of SMBs surveyed in North Carolina say that Facebook has helped them hire additional employees to work at their business
  • 78% of SMBs surveyed in North Carolina believe that Facebook allows me to find customers in other cities, states or countries
  • 76% of SMBs surveyed in North Carolina believe an individuals digital and social media skills are important when hiring, more than those who think where an individual went to school is important

Facebook operates one of its data centers in Forest City. It opened in 2012 and “supports” 275 full-time jobs, according to the company.