A survey of 300 accountants who work with businesses revealed that most expect new health care changes will make it less likely that businesses will add new employees over the next year.

The Raleigh, N.C,-based financial information firm Sageworks collected feedback that showed 66% felt that way about the impact of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.

Sixteen percent said it would have no impact and 14% of respondents said they were unsure about the ultimate impact. Only 2% said the act, commonly known as Obamacare, makes it more likely that businesses will add new employees.

“The recent delay in the implementation of the Affordable Care Act, and the uncertainty that accompanies such a delay, won't help the employment situation,” said Sageworks Chairman Brian Hamilton.

He added, “Private businesses are trying to map out their hiring and investment plans for the next 12 months, and a last-minute delay like this will increase the likelihood that companies remain on the fence about hiring.”

Sageworks said it conducted the online survey between June 25 and July 16, collecting responses from 300 accountants. The poll's respondents were all clients of Sageworks and were not randomly selected, the firm noted.

Separately, Sageworks said it asked more generally about the hiring picture for CPAs' business clients, and the outlook seems less optimistic that it did in the spring.

More than 60% of respondents said that businesses are planning to maintain their current number of employees over the next 12 months. Thirteen percent said that based on conversations with their business clients, they expect companies will increase their number of employees in the next year.

Twelve percent predicted companies will reduce their number of employees, and 12% said they are unsure about their business clients' hiring plans.

“Private companies are performing well, but they're simply not hiring with the same volume and consistency that we'd expect from them at this point in the economic recovery,” Hamilton said.