bookkeeping is playing the tortoise game.
by beth bellor
bit by bit, the accounting profession is growing. despite a staffing shortage. despite an uncertain economy. despite everything, tax and accounting firms are steadily adding to headcounts.
more: tax & accounting profession grows, but wages don’t | tax and accounting pay advancing at 5.9% pace | accounting jobs up 4% for year
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as tax and accounting professionals begin planning for the year ahead, the 卡塔尔世界杯常规比赛时间 research team is fielding a new survey to check the pulse of the profession, detect emerging trends, and identify the best success strategies going into 2024.
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according to the latest data mined by 卡塔尔世界杯常规比赛时间 research, new highs were reached in september in employment overall, staff, cpa firm staff, bookkeeping, women overall and women in cpa firms. staff also hit a new mark for hourly earnings.
nationally, total nonfarm payroll employment added 336,000 to the rolls in september, with the unemployment rate unchanged at 3.8 percent. professional, scientific, and technical services grew by 29,000.
the accounting profession grew for the ninth straight month, hitting a new peak in september of 1,168,900 – up 3,100 or 0.3 percent for the month and 40,100 or 3.6 percent for the year. employees averaged 35.5 weekly hours, down 12 minutes or 0.6 percent for the month and 54 minutes or 2.5 percent for the year. they made $41.27 an hour, down 4 cents or 0.1 percent for the month but up $1.43 or 3.6 percent for the year.
staff have increased for seven months to reach a new high of 855,600, up 6,000 or 0.7 percent for the month and 37,300 or 4.6 percent for the year. their hours at 35.4 were down 12 minutes or 0.6 percent for the month but up 6 minutes or 0.3 percent for the year. earnings have grown for six months to a record $31.86, up 10 cents or 0.3 percent for the month and $1.97 or 6.6 percent for the year.
cpa firms
numbers at cpa firms dipped slightly to 555,000, down 300 or 0.1 percent for the month but up 22,300 or 4.2 percent for the year. hours declined as well to 36.6, down 12 minutes or 0.5 percent for the month and 48 minutes or 2.1 percent for the year. earnings saw an 11-cent increase to $43.46, up 0.3 percent for the month and $1.24 or 2.9 percent for the year.
staff at cpa firms have gained for five months and set a new mark of 383,000, up 800 or 0.2 percent for the month and 18,100 or 5 percent for the year. they put in 35.4 hours, down 24 minutes or 1.1 percent for both the month and year. earnings at $33.35 were up 13 cents or 0.4 percent for the month and $1.20 or 3.7 percent for the year.
tax preparation
tax prep saw its fourth straight month of decline. at 91,500, the sector was down 1,400 or 1.5 percent for the month and 6,900 or 7 percent for the year.
payroll services
payroll services at 222,500 were down 1,900 or 0.8 percent for the month but up 10,800 or 5.1 percent for the year. average hours at 34 were down 24 minutes or 1.2 percent for the month and 2 hours 42 minutes or 7.4 percent for the year. hourly earnings at $37.79 were up 36 cents or 1 percent for the month but down 51 cents or 1.3 percent for the year.
staff in payroll increased to 190,300, up 4,800 or 2.6 percent for the month and 14,100 or 8 percent for the year. they averaged 36.3 hours, down 6 minutes or 0.3 percent for the month and unchanged for the year. earnings of $32.38 were down a nickel or 0.2 percent for the month but up $1.51 or 4.9 percent for the year.
bookkeeping
other accounting services have grown or remained flat since november. the new high of 294,300 is up 2,000 or 0.7 percent for the month and 11,600 or 4.1 percent for the year.
women
women in the profession gained for the eighth straight month. their record 735,700 reflects increases of 1,800 or 0.2 percent for the month and 22,400 or 3.1 percent for the year. women also set a new mark in cpa firms in their fifth month of gains, at 332,100 up 900 or 0.3 percent for the month and 12,800 or 4 percent for the year. they declined in payroll services, where their 107,700 was down 1,600 or 1.5 percent for the month but up 3,300 or 3.2 percent for the year.