Time to Hire?... Maybe Not So FastEven as the pace of hiring eases, small businesses continue to haul the job train along. Is your business hiring?

ByCatherine Clifford

Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

Time to Hire? ...  Maybe Not So FastBusiness owners trying to figure out whether to add new employees might be facing a tougher decision after today's disappointing jobs report. The pace ofhiringslowed in March, casting doubt on the pace of the U.S. economic recovery.

But one thing is for sure: The smaller and midsize companies are creating the lion's share of jobs. So is it time for you to hire the help you need?

Today's report from the Bureau of Labor Statistics showed that the U.S. economy added 120,000 jobs last month, a far cry from the 246,000 jobs the economy has been adding on average in the past three months.

Related:Recruiting and Hiring Top-Quality Employees

Through the recovery,small businesses have been hiring比他们的大counterpar速度快得多ts, according to recent report from private payroll company Automatic Data Processing. ADP says that small (1 to 49 employees) and midsize (50-499) payrolls have added far more jobs each month than large companies (500 employees and more).

In the three months ended in March, small payrolls added 310,000 jobs, more than six times the 51,000 jobs that large businesses added. (Note: Some large businesses break their payrolls down into smaller bits, and so some large business job growth ends up being tallied on smaller payrolls.)

Small Business: Where the Jobs Are Coming From

Related:How to Hire Workers for Crummy Jobs

This hiring trend would support the premise behind the JOBS Act, which President Obama signed into law yesterday, giving small businesses and entrepreneurs greater access to capital. "Overall, new businesses account for almost every new job that's created in America," said Obama from the Rose Garden as he signed the bill.

Feedback: Does the most recent read on the labor market change your plans about bringing on that next employee?Leave a comment below and let us know.

Catherine Clifford

Senior Entrepreneurship Writer at CNBC

Catherine Clifford is senior entrepreneurship writer at CNBC. She was formerly a senior writer at Entrepreneur.com, the small business reporter at CNNMoney and an assistant in the New York bureau for CNN. Clifford attended Columbia University where she earned a bachelor's degree. She lives in Brooklyn, N.Y. You can follow her on Twitter at @CatClifford.

Related Topics

Making a Change

The Art of the Pivot — 6 Steps to Reengineer Yourself for a Career Change

Before switching careers or starting a business, learn why reengineering is your secret weapon for turning dreams into strategies, leveraging your unique skill set, and charting a course to undeniable success. This is the game-changer you've been waiting for.

Career

Get AI-Powered Help With Resumes, Cover Letters and More With This $29.97 Tool

Let AI create your resume with this handy tool -- now $29.97 for life.

Science & Technology

Gift This Cybersecurity Bundle — $60 Through 10/23

You have just a week to get this cybersecurity bundle — $59.97 (reg. $754.)

Business Plans

Every Business Owner Needs an Exit Plan — It's Time You Develop Yours.

A winning exit strategy seamlessly aligns business success with personal fulfillment.

Franchise

He Got Bored With Retirement. Now He's Selling $18 Million Annually.

Don Lanier was ready for a change, and that pushed him to succeed. Here's how he did it.