The latest index on small business job growth from Paychex & IHSshows the numbers nearly flat from February to March, but overall, the first quarter showed the index’s best three-month increase in two years.
Paychex CEO Marty Mucci says the parts of the economy that continue to do particularly well include the services sector.
“That’s where you see discretionary spending which we think certainly is still helped by lower gas prices so people are spending in restaurants, and they’re spending on discretionary type services for themselves, and we think that’s a good sign but we’d like to see more come back, even more construction. “
Mucci also says that part time jobs continue to grow rapidly, and now make up about 10-percent of the overall workforce.
“I think partly it’s the economy, companies are hiring part-time to be a little bit careful and cautious, on the other hand I think it’s also the employees want more alternative work schedules and to work multiple part- time jobs as opposed to full time.”
Mucci says obviously full-time jobs often provide the best benefit for the economy, but at least jobs are being created.
In the latest survey, Mucci says some of the best job growth occurred on the east and west coasts.
