Jobs added across small businesses on Homebase’s platform were 0.1% higher in September than a year earlier, the first positive reading since November 2024. Turnover rose 6.5%, and employees working and hours worked were still below year-ago levels.
Average hourly wages at businesses running Homebase Payroll were 6.8% higher in September than a year earlier, at $16.76, the fastest growth since January. Paychex’s separate small-business measure showed 2.78% growth; the two cover different employers and methods.
Homebase’s measure of Atlanta businesses open, based on whether at least one employee clocked in, fell 3.6% from August and was 13.2% below its January reference level. It is an activity indicator, not a count of closures; September declines are typical.
Homebase says small-business hiring turned positive year over year, Paychex calls small-business employment steady, and QuickBooks estimates microbusinesses shed jobs. The reports cover different employers, months and measures, and should not be averaged.
