NFIB Small-Business News (04/02/15)

March saw a net increase of 0.18 workers per firm among small businesses, though the proportion of small business owners increasing employment was a net –1%, a decline of five percentage points. The National Federation of Independent Business’ Small Business Economic Trends survey of 575 small businesses also found that the percentage of owners hiring or attempting to hire new employees dropped three points to 50%.

“Considering the weather and union actions in the western ports, we are actually surprised how strong the jobs number was in March,” says chief economist William C. Dunkelberg.