Small businesses reported an uptick in new jobs in December over November, according to a monthly survey issued by the National Federation of Independent Business.

The average change in workers per firm increased to 0.03 from a negative 0.04 in November, a swing that NFIB chief economics William Dunkelberg characterized as “essentially zero.”
Job seekers stand in line to meet with prospective employers at a career fair in New York City in this file photo taken October 24, 2012. (MIKE SEGAR - REUTERS)

Eleven percent of surveyed owners added an average of 2.9 workers to their businesses over the past few months, while 13 percent reduced employment an average of 1.9 workers, seasonally adjusted. The remaining 76 percent of small business owners made no net change in employment.

Forty-one percent of small business owners hired or tried to hire in the past three months, and 33 percent of those trying to hire reported having difficulty finding qualified applications for open positions. Sixteen percent of all owners reported having a hard-to-fill job opening, down one percent since November.

Seasonally adjusted, a net 1 percent of small business owners planned to increase employment in the next few months, and not seasonally adjusted, seven percent of owners plan to increase employment at their firms — a four point decrease from last month.

However, fewer owners planned reductions over last month — 11 percent reported planning to reduce employment in December, down two points from November.

The decrease in job creation plans could reflect “frustration with Washington policy” and “economic uncertainty that peaked in December” during the “fiscal cliff” negotiations, Dunkelberg said in the report.

The NFIB has been a critic of President Obama’s small business policy. Its contributions and advertising budget have strongly supported Republicans and opposed Democrats, especially during the 2012 election cycle, according to research on OpenSecrets.org from the Center for Responsive Politics.

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What’s going on:

Small business hiring remains slow: The NFIB’s latest survey shows that hiring ticked up only slightly as the firms that are trying to find new workers continue to struggle to find qualified applicants.

Cliff averted, now what: Now that Congress has reached a deal to avoid the fiscal cliff, attention turns to what the compromise didn’t do — like prevent sequestration, address the deficit or save payroll tax cuts. Ultimately, business leaders expect uncertainty to prevail.

Small business lending slows: Borrowing by small businesses grew only 1 percent in November following an 11 percent jump in October, according to the latest survey from Paynet.

Keep an eye on:

Dodd-Frank under fire:Policy analysts say bipartisan alliances are forming that could finally allow lawmakers to push through long-awaited changes to the Wall Street reform law.

Helpful advice on:

How to use big data in a small business (OSB)

How to fill your business’ IT service needs (B2C)

How to make work wore enjoyable in 2013 (Open Forum)

How to make your business resolutions stick(Newsday)

What’s going on:

Cliff averted: The House on Tuesday night approved the Senate’s last-minute compromise to raise rates on the wealthy, extend unemployment benefits and steer clear of the fiscal cliff. Here’s everything you need to know about the deal, and here’s an early look at the implications for small businesses.

Keep an eye on:

Sales soaring for small farmers, manufacturers: Grain farmers and metal workers are looking up, while drycleaners and golf courses expect another tough year. Here are the fastest and slowest growing industries.

Helpful advice on:

How to use big data in a small business (OSB)

How to make business reolutions stick(Newsday)

How to make the most of social media lists (Mashable)

How to check the health of your business (Bloomberg)

What’s going on:

Cliff now hours away: The fiscal cliff countdown is now measured in hours rather than days, and Vice President Joe Biden is making one final push for a deal with Republican lawmakers. Small business owners are growing increasingly pessimistic, and one expert expalins how falling off the cliff could pit large firms against small vendors on Main Street.

Debit card reform pinching small banks: A legislative provision meant to protect debit card processing revenues for small banks doesn’t appear to be working as well as lawmakers had expected.

Entrepreneurs looking overseas earlier: More early-stage firms are starting to market and sell abroad right from the outset, abandoning conventional wisdom to build a customer base at home first.

Keep an eye on:

Sales soaring for small farmers, manufacturers: Grain farmers and metal workers are looking up, while drycleaners and golf courses expect another tough year. Here are the fastest and slowest growing industries.

Helpful advice on:

How to avoid a year-end financing hangover (OSB)

How to respond if you cannot make payroll (AG Beat)

How to improve your social media marketing (Open Forum)

How to check the health of your business (Bloomberg)

How to make business reolutions stick (Newsday)

What’s going on:

Unemployment claims dropping steadily: The number of unemployment benefit applications filed over the past month fell to its lowest level since early 2008, suggesting the job market is improving.

Fiscal cliff plunge looks likely: The fiscal cliff is less three days away, and President Obama is making last-minute calls to try to strike a bargain. Already, government workers are feeling the squeeze.

Entrepreneurs looking overseas earlier: More early-stage firms are starting to market and sell abroad right from the outset, abandoning conventional wisdom to build a customer base at home first.

Sales soaring for small farmers, manufacturers: Grain farmers and metal workers are looking up, while drycleaners and golf courses expect another tough year. Here are the fastest and slowest growing industries.

Keep an eye on:

Hurdles looming in 2013:Rising health costs and a skilled worker shortage may pose challenges for small firms next year, and it won’t help that accelerators are not expected to accelerate. Of course, business owners are just hoping that Washington doesn’t make matters worse.

Helpful advice on:

How to avoid a year-end financing hangover (OSB)

How to check the health of your business (Bloomberg)

How to make the most of holiday downtime (Entrepreneur)

How to find capital when bank loans aren’t available (Forbes)