Almost 78% of small businesses say their companies are growing as planned or at a faster rate than forecast at the start of the year, according to a business confidence survey released Monday by Administaff Inc. (NYSE: ASF), a Houston-based professional employer organization.

The survey also found that 44% of companies are filling full-time positions. In addition, Administaff said average compensation is up 4.9% from the first quarter of 2007.

More than 60% of firms cited the economy as their biggest concern for 2008.

The survey was taken among Administaff's more than 6,000 small- and medium-sized business customers.