*from www.reuters.com, April 3, 2013 (To view original article click here.)
Take Away #1: Small business employment grew in March by the most in a year.
Key Facts and Figures:
- The National Federation of Independent Business said that employment grew by 0.19 workers per firm last month.
- It was the fourth straight month in which employment grew and the highest reading since March 2012.
Take Away #2: Small business employment growth could be a sign of ongoing healing in the labor market despite government spending cuts expected to weigh on the economy.
Key Facts and Figures:
- The increase comes despite a series of austerity measures enacted by Washington.
- The measures included a tax hike in January and across-the-board budget cuts enacted in March.
- Most economists think austerity will hold back economic growth this year.
Take Away #3: The increase in employment at small businesses could bode well for hiring in the overall economy, although a separate measure of job creation among private employers pointed in the other direction.
Key Facts and Figures:
- The ADP National Employment Report showed 158,000 new private sector jobs in March, the weakest gain in five months.
- The government is expected to report on Friday that employers added 200,000 jobs last month, according to a Reuters survey of economists, down from 236,000 in February.
- The unemployment rate is seen steady at 7.7%.
*To view original article from www.reuters.com click here.