Careers
Paychex Index Shows Small-Business Employment Steady as Wage Growth Slows Below 3%
The September Small Business Employment Watch put the jobs index at 99.15 and hourly earnings growth at 2.78%, a counterpoint to a softening national picture.
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By Dana Whitfield
Oct 1, 2026 · 5 min read
Employment at the smallest American businesses held steady in September while wage pressure continued to ease, according to the Paychex Small Business Employment Watch released Tuesday.
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Dana Whitfield
Leadership Editor
Dana reports on boards, succession and executive pay. She has interviewed more than 200 sitting chief executives.