Small businesses are down in the dumps
Posted by: Dee DePass under Economics Updated: October 10, 2011 - 10:39 AM
SurePayroll's Small Business Scorecard has learned that mom and pop companies are down in the dumps.
The Scorecard, which tracks the health of the nation's small business economy, found that only 33 percent of surveyed business owners reported feeling optimistic in September. That's way down from 67 percent in June and 48 percent in August.
Another key finding? Business owners lack confidence in the government's ability to stimulate the economy.
Other findings:
- 20 percent were more optimistic after President Obama's speech last month. 40 percent were more pessimistic.
- 30 percent felt Obama's American Jobs Act would increase jobs.
- 10 percent said they would hire additional workers if the Act was enacted.
SurePayroll, which provides payroll services for tens of thousands of small companies nationwide, also peeked in on small businesses wage and hiring trends for metro areas around the country. It found the following:
| Metro Area | September Staffing changes |
Paycheck Size changes |
| Chicago | +1.0 % | -2.2 % |
| Cincinnati | -10.5 % | -2.3 % |
| Columbus | +1.0 % | -7.8 % |
| Minneapolis | -2.5 % | +3.0 |
| Indianapolis | -2.5 % | -10.80 % |
| Cleveland | -6.8 % | -5.4 |
In Minneapolis, the findings show that job growth isn't rising, but that paychecks are, slightly. No one's getting rich on a 3 percent bump in pay, but it's a start.
ADVERTISEMENT
recent posts
- Changes come to "On the Job"
- Workers average $30.69 an hour in total wages and benefits.
- Summer teen hiring finally sees a boost
- Minneapolis makes CareerBuilders' top 15 list for new college graduates
- Could falling gas prices boost jobs and travel during Memorial Day weekend?
- Mass layoffs continue, but numbers fall to 2006 levels.
- Economic Policy Institute reports sobering wage data for college graduates
- TakeAction Minnesota wants meeting with Target Corp. to discuss hiring policies for past convicts.
- Construction trade groups launch anti-drug policies
- Deadline for state's new business contest draws near
- HR guide gives corporations tips on hiring vets
- EEOC issues new guide on how employers should screen job candidates' criminal records
- Jobless? What's a friend to say?
- Bullies in the workplace? You bet
- Ad agency created Twitter job application for summer interns. Hires eight
- Trade deficit narrows slightly in February
- State awards $4.5 million to 13 micro-lenders
Post By Category
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
inside the StarTribune
-
425 Portland Av. S.
Minneapolis, MN 55488
(612) 673-4000
- Company
- Subscriber Services
- Website
- Buy Ads
- Store
- Connect with Us
© 2013 StarTribune. All rights reserved.
StarTribune.com is powered by Limelight Networks
Newspaper Subscriptions
eEdition
RSS
Newsletters