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.

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.

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.

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

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.

MY INTRO TO THE PROFESSION

Small business employment continued to show growth in January, with hours worked and wages also showing modest increases, according to payroll figures from Intuit.

As the economy gradually recovers, some mature workers are feeling more comfortable about retiring now compared to last year at this time.

While the U.S. economy is gradually gaining momentum, the economic outlook in the U.S. among small-business owners has retreated over the past six months amid concerns about local economic growth.

Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus, D-Mont., and member Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, introduced legislation Wednesday to create job opportunities for veterans returning home from war and help businesses create jobs.

IMGCAP(1)]The big economic question these days is when is hiring going to pick up and the unemployment rate drop?