Does a Rising Tide of Small Business Jobs Lift All Boats.

摘要

By some general measures, labor market conditions in the United States could hardly be brighter than they have been in the past few years. Aggregate unemployment was recently at a 30-year low, and productivity continues to rise. By several other measures, however, labor market performance has been disappointing. Real average wages and compensation for workers have remained essentially flat over the 1990s. Employment trends have been demographically uneven with high-skill workers benefiting more than low-skill workers. There have also been large regional differences; some areas have experienced tremendous growth while other areas have suffered net declines. Because of these disparities, it is difficult to determine whether job prospects for particular groups of workers in particular labor markets have improved. This investigation examines local employment opportunities for low-skill men and women focusing on the role of changes in the number and size distribution of employers and job flows in local labor markets. Distinguishing between employer sizes is important for several reasons. Small and large businesses differ in their responsiveness to business cycles with small businesses being more responsive. Small businesses are also widely viewed as an engine for net employment growth.