Optimism among small business owners increased since the previous month, according to SurePayroll’s Small Business Scorecard for February 2011, reaching 71 percent in February 2011.

The February CBIZ Small Business Employment Index, a barometer for hiring trends among companies with 300 or fewer employees, increased by 0.25 percent through the month, after posting a decrease of 2.62 percent in January, almost a 3 percent upswing in net month over month hiring.

Seven percent of CFOs anticipate adding full-time accounting and finance professionals in the second quarter, while another 7 percent plan personnel reductions, according to a new survey by staffing company Robert Half International.

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported Friday that nonfarm payroll employment increased by 192,000 in February, and the unemployment rate dipped by one-tenth of a percentage point to 8.9 percent.

In a good news-bad news scenario, half of small business owners are optimistic about their growth prospects in 2011. However, 47 percent reported that recent government regulations have slowed or prevented growth, according to a small business survey from payroll and benefits outsourcing concern Paychex.

Private sector employers added 217,000 jobs last month, including 100,000 jobs at small businesses, according to payroll data from ADP.

Small business employment and hours worked continued to grow in February, but the level of wages generally remained flat, according to figures from Intuit.

Halfpricesoft.com has added data import and upload features to the new edition of ezW2, its software for filing W2 and 1099 forms.

Whether or not the Obama administration budget proposal to add some clarity to worker classification sees the light of day, the employee vs. independent contractor issue will surely be undergoing increased scrutiny.

Accounting Principals, an accounting and finance staffing provider, has published its 2011 Salary Guide, containing up-to-date information on the current compensation trends of finance and accounting professionals across small, medium and large businesses in the U.S.

Payroll and benefits outsourcing provider Paychex said it has completed its previously announced acquisition of online payroll concern SurePayroll.

CBIZ said its index of small business employment suffered its largest drop in employment last month since January 2010.

The Obama administration is expected to propose a way for states to raise more money in payroll taxes to pay for the cost of unemployment insurance.

The unemployment rate fell by 0.4 of a percentage point to 9.0 percent in January, while nonfarm payroll employment changed little, with the addition of 36,000 jobs, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics on Friday.

Small business managers are expecting hiring activity within their organizations to improve in 2011, according to a new survey, but say it will likely be hindered by continued challenges related to accessing credit, government regulations and health insurance costs.

Private sector employers in the U.S. added 187,000 jobs last month, according to the latest monthly payroll figures from ADP.

Companies concerned about keeping their top performers and attracting new ones this year may be sweetening the pot with non-monetary benefits, according to a new survey.

Chief financial officers in the U.S. lead CFOs in Europe in terms of economic optimism, access to credit and plans for hiring new workers, according to a new survey.

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