Business Establishments

Majority of Businesses Have Twenty Employees or Less

Why is it important?

Small, locally owned businesses are the source of 75 to 95 percent of all job growth in a community, either because they are newly formed or expanding. But since these new jobs are scattered throughout the economy, they are often overlooked. Yet a powerful form of economic development focuses on local firms by asking what they need to be more successful – better information, access to markets, broadband, etc. Determining why these firms located to a community can reveal unusual assets worth conserving and investing in for economic development. Assets such as access to outdoor recreation, historic charm, and spectacular scenery can spur economic development.

How are we doing?

As shown by the above graph, the majority of business establishments – ranging from about 89-95 percent – in all four subregions are considered small, with twenty or less employees. This implies that most businesses are more locally focused and thus provide jobs for members of the local community. This only becomes problematic when most of these jobs are low paying and create difficultly for employees to afford housing in the area.

Download data and charts 1994 to 2001