Status of U.S. Entrepreneurial Activity
The 2011 Kauffman Index of Entrepreneurial Activity is now out, and it presents some interesting findings. I think the biggest surprise is that fewer new businesses were started in 2011 than in 2010. Kind of makes one wonder about what goes on in the minds of the unemployed and underemployed.
Here are some highlights from Kauffman’s latest report:
- In 2011 there were 6,516,000 new full-time businesses created in the U.S. by people between the ages of 20 and 64. People who created more than one business were NOT counted.
- The 2011 rate of business creation was 5.9% lower than 2010, but still slightly higher than pre-recession rates.
- Immigrants started new businesses in the U.S. at more than twice the rate of native-born Americans. (What happened to American ambition and ingenuity?)
- The Construction industry had the highest entrepreneurial activity, and the second highest was the Service industry.
- The rate of entrepreneurial activity in Manufacturing has consistently fallen below all other industries since 1996 (the start of the Kauffman Index). 2011 was no exception.
- The rate of entrepreneurial activity by women has remained relatively flat and is still below the highest rate they had in 1996. Entrepreneurial activity by women is roughly one-half the rate for men.
- The rate of entrepreneurial activity for employer firms dropped at a faster rate than non-employer firms. Employer firm creation has been on an overall decline since the start of the Kauffman Index.
These are interesting statistics that seem to indicate that native-born Americans, especially women and young adults, are involved less in entrepreneurial activity than are immigrants.
I wonder what has created this loss of entrepreneurial spirit in the U.S.?
What do you think?
*
Entrepreneurial Activity During the Recession
The new Kauffman Index of Entrepreneurial Activity has just been released for 2009 and the report indicates that 2009 had the highest number of new U.S. business startups since the index started in 1996. There were an average of 558,000 new full-time businesses started each month of 2009, for a total number of startups of 6,696,000 for the year.
You won’t find anything close to this number published by the U.S. government, because most government agencies do not count non-employer businesses as startups—even though they make up 70% of all American businesses (and contribute a Trillion dollars to the GDP). Thankfully, we have the Kauffman Foundation.
Here are some of the highlights for 2009: (The following numbers are expressed as the number of new businesses created each month out of 100,000 adult population.)
- 340 out of 100,000 adult population created a new business each month of 2009. This is also the third straight year of increased rates of new business startups.
- Men created new businesses at the rate of 430 per month…a slight increase over 2008.
- Women created new businesses at the rate of 250 per month…also a slight increase over 2008.
- African-Americans had the highest rate of increase in entrepreneurial activity in 2009, with 270 new businesses. In 2008, the rate was 220 per month.
- Latino entrepreneurial activity dropped from 2008, but still had the highest rate for 2009 at 460 new businesses…against 480 new businesses in 2008.
- Immigrant-owned startups were higher than native-born, with 510 new businesses. Native-born entrepreneurs started 300 new businesses in 2009.
- The oldest age group (fifty-five to sixty-four) continued their upward trend of startups with 400 new businesses in 2009.
- The youngest group (twenty to thirty-four) had the lowest new business creation of any age group, at 240 new businesses.
- The West continued to lead the country in creating new businesses, with 380, while the Midwest continued in last position with 270. However, the Midwest did show a sharp increase from the 230 new businesses created in 2008.
- Houston had the highest rate of new businesses in large cities, at 630, while Seattle had the lowest rate at 160.
Remember, the above numbers represent the number of new businesses created each month, per 100,000 adult population.
Men, African-Americans, Latinos, older people, and immigrants seem to lead the activity of entrepreneurial startups. Sadly, the youngest group (twenty to thirty-four) peaked way back in 1996 at 280 new businesses, and have consistently been under that number ever since.
I wrote about the dearth of women entrepreneurs previously, but they too have not matched their peak startup year of 1996.
Obviously, the “startup” business is good. Three straight years of increases in the startup rate—right through the recession—seems to indicate that a small business can be created anytime, regardless of economic conditions.
So, for all of you who have been waiting “for things to improve,” I think right now might be the best time for you to start your business. Debbie Fields, founder of Mrs. Field’s Cookies, said, “The important thing is not being afraid to take a chance. Remember, the greatest failure is to not try.”
*
My Book
Any business crisis can be managed before it becomes fatal . . . Be Your Own Turnaround Manager tells you how. Click here for more information.