Each year during the month of May the United States recognizes National Small Business Week, an event that was designed to honor top small business entrepreneurs across the country. This being the case, there is no better time than the present for Staffing Kansas City to express our gratitude to the Kansas City small business community that we are proud to be a part of.
A Kansas City Business Journal On Numbers analysis of 2010 U.S. Census Bureau data reveals that among the country’s 938 micropolitan and metropolitan regions, Kansas City ranks 26th for small businesses. In fact, small businesses comprise a staggering 97 percent of all of Kansas City’s businesses, with 48,757 out of a total 50,129 businesses employing fewer than 100 individuals. Moreover, among these small businesses, over 72 percent are microbusinesses—meaning that 35,501 Kansas City-based businesses are sustained by fewer than 10 employees.
The vital role of small businesses in Kansas City is in many respects reflective of national employment trends. From mid-2009 to 2012, for instance, small businesses were responsible for creating 63 percent of new jobs across the United States. Between 2004 and 2010, microbusinesses that employed between 1 and 4 employees created a whopping 5.5 million new jobs nationally. (By comparison, big businesses employing 500 or more individuals lost 1.8 million jobs.) Moreover, it is estimated that in the next 5 years, nearly 40 percent of all small businesses will employ 5 or more individuals.
In addition to yielding these impressive employment statistics—and thus playing a vital role in the growth of both local and national economies—small businesses also contribute heavily to the unique zest of the areas in which they are located. In the case of Kansas City, our town is perhaps best known to outsiders for its smoky-sweet barbeque and rich history of jazz; as all of the locals know, however, our flavor relies on much more than these two—admittedly remarkable—cultural traditions. This reality is reflected in the diversity of businesses represented in the Kansas City Chamber’s 2014 Top 10 Small Business awards, which recognized everything from sustainable design firms to construction management organizations, medical institutions to marketing companies, and more. Indeed, the diverse spectrum of small businesses that populate this area may be said to represent the heart and soul of Kansas City.
Staffing Kansas City would thus like to take this opportunity to recognize the many, many business owners who have worked to make Kansas City the city it is today. Likewise, we want to extend a heartfelt “Thank you and congratulations!” to each and every one of our small business clients, who together represent all that Kansas City has to offer to residents and visitors alike.
This article is brought to you by Staffing Kansas City, a full-service Kansas City employment agency that provides contract-to-hire, temporary placements, and permanent employment placement services.
