Encouraged by a rebounding economy, small business owners added 100,000 jobs in February, CNNMoney.com reported.

The gain, which was in line with the 101,000 jobs added by small businesses in both December and January, reflects a big improvement from a little more than a year ago, when the sector was slashing thousands of jobs each month.

According to payroll processor ADP, small businesses started hiring in early 2010 and have been adding positions for the past 12 months after shedding 2.7 million jobs between April 2008 and February of last year.

Federal Reserve data indicated that U.S.-based businesses added 217,000 jobs in February. Of those, 46 percent were added by small businesses, according to ADP data.