National employer survey shows more hiring, growth

MANATEE — A national survey of small and mid-size companies shows that employers are bullish on 2010 and expect to hire new employees to match economic growth they are anticipating.

Several local business owners echoed those results, saying they plan to hire and expand this year as the country pulls itself out of a recession.

The survey of 225 businesses by TriNet, a human resources provider in Lakewood Ranch, found that two-thirds plan to hire new employees in 2010, and 53 percent expect strong or moderate economic growth. A similar survey done a year ago showed businesses expected only 30 percent growth.

Chris Tomasso, chief marketing officer of First Watch restaurants with headquarters in Bradenton, says the year ahead looks good for the chain, which has 2,600 employees with 80 restaurants in 11 states.

“2010 is shaping up to be a good growth year,” he said. The company is taking advantage of lower real estate and construction costs to expand, and plans to open eight corporate restaurants and four franchise restaurants in 2010. Each restaurant hires 25 to 30 employees.

“Consumers are being more selective in their choices with dining out,” he said. “They are going with restaurants their comfortable with.”

TriNet officials say the survey results show that small businesses are continuing to be the “economic bellwethers,” showing the worst of the country’s economic woes are over.

“The United States economic recovery will come on the backs of small business, not the big corporations,” said Burton M. Goldfield, TriNet’s president and chief executive officer. “The results in this survey show that entrepreneurs are more confident, prepared for a turnaround and ready to make opportunistic hires when the time is right.”

David Teitelbaum, an owner of Anna Maria Island Resorts, which manages the Tortuga Inn, Seaside Inn Resort, Old Bridge Village and the Tradewinds Inn Resort on Anna Maria, also forecasts a good 2010 with more hiring, more visitors and higher revenues.

“I am looking at reservations as of Jan. 1 and they are up 5 percent, and we expect them to go up more by the end of the year,” he said. The resorts, with 21 employees, have recently hired three more. The resorts had 75 percent occupancy in 2009 and Teitelbaum is aiming for 80 percent in 2010.

Bealls executives say they like what they are seeing for 2010 retail buying, but are taking a cautious approach.

“We see an improving local economy. Gradually as sales improve we will continue to add positions at the individual stores,” said Conrad Szymanski, Bealls Outlet Stores president. “We are also experiencing significant sales growth outside Florida, which is beginning to create jobs to service those stores both in corporate and distribution centers.”

Lana Cain Krauter, Bealls Department Stores president, said the company is focused on growing its e-commerce. “As the economy improves and key merchandise trends emerge we are positioned to take advantage of the opportunity to grow,” she said.

Some smaller business owners are still leery but hopeful that 2010 will mark a turnaround in business.

Janet Mixon, of Mixon Fruit Farms, is discouraged by the $355 extra unemployment compensation tax she must pay for each employee, and says that has curtailed hiring some.

“We always hire for this time of year and have up to 50-60 employees, but we did hire less this year,” she said.

But Mixon is still taking an optimistic approach and planning a number of community events like the Orange Blossom Festival in March with rides, crafts and food vendors along with concerts and a health and business fair.

“We are doing everything we can to entice people to come here,” she said. With the upcoming start of spring training for the Pittsburgh Pirates, Mixon expects to be busy.

“We always get a boost from that,” she said.

TriNet’s Goldfield says survey respondents believe a strong compensation package and their company’s culture/reputation are “very important” to their ability to hire.

“The hottest issue this year will be compensation practices and the return of the raise,” Goldfield added. “As the labor market warms, firms will realize they need to boost their salary budgets and engage key talent — or risk losing them to competitors.”