Canadian businesses may scale back hiring -survey

TORONTO, Oct 23 (Reuters) - Credit concerns among Canadian small-business owners appear to be stabilizing, but fewer businesses expect to add full-time workers in the next year, according to a weekly survey.

The Canadian Federation of Independent Business said on Thursday only 23 percent of the 653 business owners it surveyed expect to add full-time workers in the next year, down from recent weeks, while 17 percent expect to cut staff.

"These are weaker numbers than earlier in the month, and well below those traditionally found among employers from this survey," the group stated.

However, the findings do not represent "firm plans" on staffing, it added, since financial and commodity markets are still too volatile for business owners to make such plans.

The federation said 27 percent of its member businesses reported difficulties getting bank financing in a poll this week, a slight dip from 28 percent last week. This figure has been at similar levels for the past month. Only 12 percent of respondents a year ago thought access to bank credit was getting worse.

The federation has increased the frequency of its Business Barometer survey to weekly in October and November, instead of quarterly. Results of its next survey are due Oct. 30.

Small and mid-sized businesses account for about 45 percent of Canada's GDP and 60 percent of private sector employment, the group says. (Reporting by Lynne Olver; Editing by Frank McGurty)