Forty-one percent of small businesses plan to increase hiring efforts in the next 12 months, according to a survey of 319 U.S. small business owners by Oasis, a Paychex Company, which provides outsourced HR solutions.

This includes business owners who expect "more hiring than in the past year to fill existing gaps in the business" and those who said they are "stepping up hiring to drive growth."

How would you describe the type of hiring your business will do in the next 12 months?

"The tight labor market makes hiring external talent a challenging and complex process, especially when seeking the precise skills and cultural fit needed in a small business," said Emily Welfeld, Senior Manager, Staff Sourcing at Oasis. "Owners and managers who have a clear set of selection criteria and a highly-effective candidate recruitment process will reduce the risk that so many face in spending too much time and resources in finding the right person."

"Small businesses have a reputation of running lean and efficient when it comes to staffing," noted Welfeld. "The majority of survey respondents said they are planning for nominal hiring on an as-needed basis to try and make do with what they have, which can create stress on the business if it is also striving for growth at the same time."

"A relationship with a Professional Employer Organization (PEO), like Oasis, can help with tracking applicants and managing the hiring process, while also aiding business growth," said Welfeld.