Fewer small businesses added workers in November but the average gain per firm rose slightly and an increasing number of firms anticipated stepping up hiring in the future, a survey released on Thursday showed. The National Federation of Independent Business said a survey of 615 of its members found only a net 2 percent of firms added workers over the latest period, down a point from October. The average increase per firm, however, rose to 0.05 from zero.
NFIB said 24 percent of the businesses reported job openings they could not fill, a historically high number that was unchanged from October. "This indicator anticipates no deterioration and possibly a slightly lower (unemployment) rate," it said. The group said job creation plans rose a point to a net 11 percent of firms.
The US Labour Department on Friday will release its snapshot of employment in November. Economists polled by Reuters expect non-farm payrolls rose by 230,000 workers last month, a slight pick up from October, with the jobless rate holding at a six-year low of 5.8 percent.