CPA Firms Post 5% Growth Rate

Tax and accounting industry hits 1 million workers, capping more than 25 years of sometimes volatile expansion. Shown: Workforce in thousands, monthly, 1990-2016.

Tax & accounting hiring trends for 2017:
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By Beth Bellor
CPA Trendlines

It’s still a great time to be an accountant, according to new CPA Trendlines research. But watch the long-term trends carefully. All the gains are not always what they seem at first.

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Year over year, CPA firm staffs are growing by 4.7 percent while payroll overall is increasing at a 4.6 percent rate. The number of tax preparation employees is falling, however, 12.5 percent for the latest month,  but up 3.2 percent for the year. Women are making some large year-over-year gains as well – 4.8 percent at CPA firms and 12 percent at payroll services.