Newtek Business Services Corp., The Small Business Authority, with a portfolio of over 100,000 business accounts, announced today the findings of its SB Authority Market Sentiment Survey, a monthly window into the concerns of independent business owners. Based on a poll of over 1,300 respondents, the key finding from the May survey is 66% of business owners do not plan on hiring in the next 3 to 6 months. An additional finding is 52% of business owners say their company hires employees who have just graduated from college. Both figures are very slightly improved from the results found a year prior.

The full May 2015 results showed the following:

Barry Sloane, Chairman, President and CEO of The Small Business Authority commented, "Although the economy continues to improve ever so slightly on an aggregate basis, we all know that in the small business segment much is left to be desired. Business owners still do not have pent up demand to hire, strongly preferring spending money on technology rather than hiring staff.  Job growth appears to occur mostly in low wage positions, as mid-level management jobs get squeezed by little demand from independent business owners to hire. Until we see U.S. manufacturing, energy or technology sectors booming, the jobs market for growth will continue to appear bleak."