Metro Atlanta small businesses ahead of nation's in hiring, pay hikes last year, survey finds (Greensboro: wages)

[tonygeorgia]

Hiring by small businesses in metro Atlanta increased last year, and so did the wages those businesses paid, the latest survey by online payroll company SurePayroll shows. Hiring was up 3.3 percent and paychecks grew 0.7 percent in metro Atlanta in 2011, according to the Small Business Scorecard on Tuesday. Those increases bucked the trend nationwide, as small businesses in the majority of metro areas showed decreases in hiring and paycheck size.

Nationwide, hiring was down 3.2 percent for all of 2011, and pay fell 0.8 percent for the year.

Among metropolitan areas measured, only Charlotte, Greensboro, Las Vegas, Orlando, San Antonio and Tampa had bigger hiring improvements for the year than Atlanta.

Each month, SurePayroll analyzes payroll data from tens of thousands of small businesses across the country in preparing its report.

In addition to its findings on hiring and wages in 2011, the company's survey found that 50 percent of small business owners nationally plan to hire in 2012. Also, 56 percent said they plan to raise wages for some or all of their employees.

“We saw caution in 2011, but the leading indicators suggest 2012 looks positive,” said SurePayroll CEO and President Michael Alter. “The sun is on the horizon. Optimism is higher."

In another finding, one in five small business owners surveyed plans to seek funding in 2012. The main areas of investment are expected to be marketing, technology and facility upgrades or expansion.