NFIB News Release (10/02/14)

National Federation of Independent Business owners increased employment by a seasonally adjusted average of 0.24 workers per firm in September, the 12th positive month in a row and the largest gain this year. Thirteen percent of owners reported adding workers over the past few months; the percentage was unchanged. Ten percent reduced employment (up one point).

Fifty percent of the owners hired or tried to hire in the past three months, and 42% (84% of those trying to hire or hiring) reported few or no qualified applicants for open positions. Twenty-one percent of all owners reported job openings they could not fill in the current period, down five points, and 15% reported using temporary workers, down one point. The net percentage of owners planning to increase employment fell one point to a seasonally adjusted net 9% after a three point decline in August.