Workers at U.S. small businesses saw the 12th consecutive month of increasing hourly earnings gains, while the pace of job growth slowed in May. These insights are according to the latest Paychex | IHS Markit Small Business Employment Watch. The May report shows average hourly earnings stand at $30.31, up by 5.19 percent from a year ago. The Small Business Jobs Index, which measures the year-over-year rate of employment growth, decreased 0.27 percent from previous month to an index level of 100.87.

“As the unemployment rate nears record lows, small business hiring has also slowed,” said James Diffley, chief regional economist at IHS Markit.

“After holding near an eight year high in April, small business job growth was down in May. Despite the one-month change, job growth at U.S. small businesses remains strong even in the face of the tight labor market and inflation pressures,” said Martin Mucci, Paychex CEO.

In further detail, the May report showed:
- Nationally, hourly earnings have increased $1.50 during the past year, now reaching $30.31.
- At 100.87, the national jobs index saw the largest one-month decline in more than two years.
- The south continued as the top region for small business job growth, Texas was once again the leading state, and Dallas continued as the top metro.
- The south was the top region for hourly earnings growth, including North Carolina as the leading state.
- Leisure and hospitality leads the industry sectors in both small business job growth and hourly earnings growth.

Paychex solutions reach 1 in 12 American private-sector employees, making the Small Business Employment Watch an industry benchmark. Drawing from the payroll data of approximately 350,000 Paychex clients with fewer than 50 employees, the monthly report offers analysis of national employment and wage trends, as well as examines regional, state, metro, and industry sector activity.


National Jobs Index

The national index slowed 0.27 percent in May, the largest one-month decrease since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic more than two years ago. As the U.S. moves closer to full employment, the national jobs index decelerated to 100.87 in May, the first month in 2022 below 101. The pace of small business growth has slowed at an increasing rate each month since January 2022.

National Wage Report

Hourly earnings growth increased for the 12th consecutive month, from 2.72 percent in May 2021 to 5.19 percent in May 2022. At $30.31, hourly earnings have increased $1.50 during the past year. In addition to annual hourly earnings growth reaching a new record level in May 2022 (5.19 percent), one-month and three-month annualized growth also set new highs, 7.00 percent and 5.53 percent, respectively. Weekly earnings growth improved modestly to 4.46 percent, while weekly hours worked growth has remained negative since April 2021.

Regional Jobs Index

The May slowdown in small business employment growth impacted all regions, with the Midwest having the smallest decrease (-0.18 percent) and the South having the largest decrease (-0.33 percent). At 101.17, the South continues to lead regional small business employment growth. The jobs index in the South has been above 101 for seven consecutive months.

Regional Wage Report

At 5.46 percent, the South leads regions in hourly earnings growth, followed closely by the West (5.36 percent) and the Midwest (5.30 percent). The Northeast is last among regions in both earnings and hours worked growth; all regions have hourly earnings growth above five percent and weekly earnings growth above four percent, except for the Northeast.

State Jobs Index

The small business job market continues to be very strong in Texas as its index is highest among states (102.96) and has been above 102 for ten straight months. Ranked second among states as recently as February 2022, the Arizona jobs index has slowed 2.22 percent during the past quarter and now ranks 14th among states (100.65). At 101.53, the Washington jobs index has the best 12-month growth rate among states, up 7.18 percent. Virginia (4.81 percent) and New York (4.70 percent) rank second and third among states for 12-month change rate.

State Wage Report

At 6.22 percent, North Carolina leads states in hourly earnings growth for the eighth time during the past ten months. Three other states (Arizona, Ohio, and Florida) also have hourly earnings growth above six percent. Pennsylvania and Virginia lag states in hourly earnings growth, both reporting 3.84 percent in May. Texas leads weekly growth among states in both earnings (5.53 percent) and hours worked (0.23 percent). Moreover, Texas is the only state with positive weekly hours worked growth in May.

Metropolitan Jobs Index

At 105.33, Dallas is the strongest metro for small business employment growth for the ninth consecutive month with an index three points higher than the next best metros (Miami, 102.10 and Houston, 101.80). Seattle gained 0.70 percent in May and 7.95 percent from last May, the best one-month and 12-month change rates among metros. At 101.63, Seattle’s index is fourth among metros, a three-year high ranking. Florida metros Miami and Tampa have been on divergent paths during 2022. Since January, Miami has gained a modest 0.32 percent, while Tampa has dropped 2.91 percent. Tampa ranks last among metros (99.14) in May, though it ranked in the top 3 for 22 consecutive months from January 2020 to October 2021.

Metropolitan Wage Report

Hourly earnings growth spiked to 6.74 percent in Dallas in May as one-month annualized growth has averaged 8.80 percent during 2022. Philadelphia and Washington are the only metros with hourly earnings growth below four percent in May. Tampa tops the metros for weekly earnings growth at 6.02 percent, and ranks second only to Dallas for hourly earnings growth (6.19 percent). Comparing weekly hours worked growth among Texas metros, Houston continues to rank first among metros (0.36 percent), while Dallas continues to rank last (-1.30 percent).

Industry Jobs Index

Leisure and hospitality decreased 1.15 percent in May to 104.01. While it remains the top-ranked jobs index, the sector has had the weakest one-month change rate for the past four months as it has been unable to maintain the rapid recovery pace of job growth. Manufacturing (0.20 percent) and construction (0.14 percent) were the only two sectors to improve their pace of small business employment growth in May. At 98.15, financial activities slowed for the ninth time during the past ten months and has ranked last among sectors since October 2021.

Industry Wage Report

Leisure and hospitality continues its run as the top sector for earnings growth and bottom sector for hours worked growth. At 8.66 percent, hourly earnings growth in leisure and hospitality are more than two percent above the next best sector (other services, 6.40 percent). Education and health services is the only sector with hourly earnings growth (3.86 percent) or weekly earnings growth (3.19 percent) below four percent. Furthermore, it is only ahead of leisure and hospitality for weakest weekly hours worked growth (-0.50 percent). Construction (0.25 percent) and manufacturing (0.09 percent) are the only two sectors with positive weekly hours worked growth.