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Helping Businesses Oregon’s Economy Making a Difference

Small Business is key to Oregon’s economy

  • Small businesses make a significant contribution to the economy and they are the engines of Oregon’s economy.1

  • Nationally, small firms generate half of U.S. private output and employment.2

  • Oregon’s net job growth between 2002-2003 occurred in firms with fewer than 20 employees.3

  • The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) calls small businesses the “backbone” of the American economy.
“Small business is the lifeblood of Oregon, and small business issues are the bellwether of our economy.”
Gary Cardwell
Oregon’s Small Business Development strategy: A report to the Governor, Governor’s Small Business Council

Oregon Businesses:

  • 98% have fewer than 100 employees.

  • 96% have fewer than 20 employees.

  • 65% have fewer than 10 employees.

  • Oregon is a small firm state, ranking 13th in the U.S. in employment by businesses with 1- 4 employees.4

  • Minority-owned businesses generated $3.9 billion in revenues per year nationally.5

  • Women-owned businesses in Oregon account for 59% of all privately held businesses in the state.6
 
  1. Small Business Profile, U.S. Small Business Administration, Office of Advocacy.
  2. bid
  3. Covered Employment & Wages, Oregon Employment Department, 2002, 2003.
  4. Microenterprise Employment Statistics in Oregon, Association for Enterprise Opportunity.
  1. U.S. Department of Commerce, Census Bureau.
  2. Women-Owned Businesses in Oregon, 2004: A Fact Sheet, Center for Women’s Busienss Research.
  3. U.S. Small Business Administration, Office of Advocacy.