According to the National Federation of Independent Business, owners added an average 0.24 workers per firm, which while not sounding like much is the 12th gain in a row and the biggest increase of the year. The data is seasonally adjusted and comes from the broader survey of small-business optimism.
Interestingly, the NFIB reports it wasn’t so much the less-frequent layoffs, but a surge in hirings. That’s welcome news considering layoffs — while falling — have been low for some time.
Small-business owners continued to report difficulty adding positions, with 84% of those trying to hire reporting few or no qualified applicants. Economists would note that these owners are not taking the next step — lifting wages to find better talent.
– Steve Goldstein
Article source:http://blogs.marketwatch.com/capitolreport/2014/10/02/small-business-employment-sees-strongest-gain-of-the-year/
