Franchises Pull Back Hiring in September

October 3rd, 2019

Franchised establishments in the United States pulled back hiring, rising only modestly in their hires in September over August. Franchises gained 5,800 jobs in September, according to the ADP National Franchise Report.

Only May and March jobs from franchises were lower than September's. Franchised hotels and business services lost jobs in September, while real estate franchises were flat.

Nonfarm private-sector employment increased a modest 135,000 jobs. Down by 3,000, mining and natural resources was the only industry that dropped jobs.

“The job market has shown signs of a slowdown,” said Ahu Yildirmaz, vice president and co-head of the ADP Research Institute. “The average monthly job growth for the past three months is 145,000, down from 214,000 for the same time period last year.”

The softening of the job market may be the case for nonfarm private-sector employment, but not for franchises. Although September saw only a meager gain in franchise jobs, the monthly average hires for July, August, and September are up. Franchise hires this year in the third quarter compared to the same period from last year and the year before is at its highest (see chart).

Small businesses, categorized as businesses between 1 to 49 employees, were up a modest 30,000 jobs in September.

“Businesses have turned more cautious in their hiring," said Moody’s Analytics chief economist, Mark Zandi. Small businesses have become especially hesitant. If businesses pull back any further, unemployment will begin to rise.”

Don Sniegowski

Don launched the news site Blue MauMau in the Fall of 2005 after franchise buyers and owners told him that they felt it was almost impossible to shovel through the propaganda and sales spin from business news, disclosures, and even franchise experts in order to make informed and wise investments.

Why is this news site called Blue MauMau? It's metaphorical. Blue MauMau is a South Pacific fish that gathers in schools for protection from sharks and other predators. In an industry that has many impediments in knowing truth at the franchise level, Don created a platform that franchisees from all brands and ilks could use to network together to inform both themselves and reporters about their businesses and industry. This site works when franchise owners participate in what they know. In the past that function has been left largely to the franchisor. I'll still reach out to franchisors, but I do so wanting straightforward answers for our readers—franchisees. This news site aims to continually improve at being "the franchise owner's most trusted news source."

Don is the award-winning publisher of this news site about franchised establishments, Blue MauMau. He can be emailed at editor@bluemaumau.org or tweeted @dsnig.