Fortune Small Business
September 12, 2004

Owners of small businesses are starting to show real signs of economic optimism.

From the fourth quarter of 2003 through this year's first quarter, small firms added more employees to the payroll, as well as shifting their labor pool from contract to permanent workers.

Fourth Quarter 2003 to First Quarter 2004

Employment growth
2.2%

Contractors
-9.8%

Copyright © 2004. Fortune Small Business.