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Paychex-IHS Small Business Jobs Index increased to 100.45 in October 2021
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National job growth was on the rise for the fifth consecutive month in October and wages are increasing dramatically too, according to aggregated payroll data of approximately 350,000 clients provided by Paychex. The data released in the latest report of the Paychex | IHS Markit Small Business Employment Watch shows the Small Business Jobs Index for October increased to 100.45, up 0.50 percent in October and 6.50 percent over a year ago. In response to labor market pressures, hourly earnings growth improved to 3.85 percent in October, a new record level since reporting began ten years ago.
“The Small Business Jobs Index added another 0.50 percent to reach 100.45 in October, its best level in four and a half years, indicating that small business hiring is improving rapidly,” said James Diffley, chief regional economist at IHS Markit.
“The positive gains seen since June indicate that jobs lost in 2020 are steadily coming back, although there’s still ground to make up to return to pre-pandemic levels,” said Martin Mucci, Paychex president and CEO. “With hourly earnings growth at record levels, you can see employers are responding to labor market pressures and the impact of many workers leaving their current jobs and seeking new opportunities.”
In further detail, the October report showed:
- The national jobs index surpassed 100 for the first time since 2017.
- At a national level, hourly earnings growth has steadily increased, from 2.99 percent in June to 3.85 percent in October.
- Of the 20 largest states based on U.S. population, nine have hourly earnings growth above four percent.
- With hourly earnings growth at record levels, weekly earnings growth is also on the rise, increasing to 3.15 percent in October.
- Leisure and hospitality leads sectors in earnings and hours worked growth for the seventh consecutive month.
- The West is the new top region for small business employment growth, overtaking the South.
Posted: November 2, 2021 Tuesday 08:30 AM