Small business surveys show companies picked up their hiring pace starting in spring

Surveys of small businesses show that they started stepping up their pace of hiring in spring. The surveys, by payroll provider ADP and software maker Intuit, count the number of new jobs at their small business customers. While there have been month-to-month fluctuations, the overall trend is up:

ADP Small Business National Employment Report

January: 51,000

February: 80,000

March: 77,000

April: 73,000

May: 98,000

June: 126,000

July: 84,000

Intuit Small Business Employment Index

January: 10,000

February: zero

March: zero

April: 25,000

May: 35,000

June: 20,000

July: 15,000