Officials say the latest Paychex | IHS Small Business Jobs Index shows a gain in those kinds of jobs across the country in February.
Paychex CEO Marty Mucci says that adds onto gains achieved in January.
"For at least the last two months we’ve seen some nice gains in the increase in job growth for small businesses under the Paychex index, and so what we’re excited about it’s basically wiped out the decreases that we saw in the job growth last year.”
Mucci says one thing that could be having a positive impact, at least in terms of jobs in the services industry, is the lower gas prices.
“I think more discretionary income because of lower gas prices, and you’re seeing job growth come back in leisure and hospitality, other personal care services, so people have more discretionary income to spend.”
Mucci says Paychex is also seeing an increase in wages nationwide.
“I think you’re seeing some of the minimum wage levels come into play, but generally you’re seeing lower unemployment, and so, a scarcity of resource, you’re raising your wages to hire and retain people.”
Mucci says the areas of the country that saw the strongest job growth were in the Mountain states and also in the South.
