Small businesses in Florida post uptick in jobs in August, payroll analysis shows

Florida beats U.S. in small-firm new hires

Small businesses in Florida added jobs in August at a quicker pace than most of the country, according to an analysis released Monday by software maker Intuit. The monthly report shows Florida growing by 0.3 percent over the month, far better than the anemic 0.1 percent growth nationally that Intuit estimated. The 0.1 percent translates to about 26,000 new jobs nationwide, or an annualized growth rate of 1.2 percent. Since October 2009, small-business jobs have increased by 340,000, Intuit's small-business index estimates. Intuit said the pace has slowed from earlier this year, but average hours worked and compensation per employee are steady. The index is based on figures from the country's smallest businesses that use Intuit Online Payroll. In states where the index includes more than 1,000 small firms, New York and Virginia saw the greatest growth (both up 0.5 percent). New Jersey saw the greatest decline (down 0.4 percent).

Times staff