Professional Services Hiring Goes Up

Hiring at small professional services firms grew a bit last month, according to the latest figures from CBIZ.

The firm’s Small Business Employment Index indicated that the professional services sector, which includes accounting and tax preparation along with other services, grew at a mild pace of 0.2 percent in May, according to Philip Noftsinger, business unit president for CBIZ Payroll Services.

However, Noftsinger pointed out that’s actually a stronger number than it appears, as any temporary staff hired by firms for tax season likely would have been reduced in May. Thus any growth after tax season in the professional services category should be a good sign.

The entertainment, recreation, construction, accommodation and food service industries drove most of the hiring growth in May, though the transportation industry showed a notable decline in hiring.

CBIZ surveys data from more than 4,000 companies employing 300 or fewer people for the Small Business Employment Index. Overall the index increased by 1.36 percent in May, following a 1.17 percent increase in April, solidifying a positive trend in small business hiring in the first half of the year.

CBIZ found 27.5 percent of the companies included in its index last month increased their headcount, while 23 percent reduced headcount. The other 49.5 percent made no change in their employee totals.