MarketWatch (02/22/12)

A recent survey of 300 family owned firm executives by Family Enterprise USA indicates that over the next 12 months, 54% plan to hire more workers and just 8% plan to decrease their work force. Only 34% have reduced their work force in response to the recession, even though more than half of the executives polled said their revenue had declined or remained flat. Over the past couple of years, 33% of family owned firms that have been in business for 60 to 100 years were able to expand their work force despite the economic downturn. However, 44% of respondents said uncertainty in regards to the tax code and government regulation is an obstacle to job growth.