The law of diminishing returns comes into play here.
Employers who had to lay off people found that the job could get done by less people with more profit.
When the economy is good and things are rolling along fine a business does not mind the diminishin returns so much because the business owner can take more time off and enjoy life. When things tighten up that man starts working harder himself and starts expecting more from the people he keeps.Less people working, more profit.
Add this to the fact that Obama’s policies have made it even more expensive to hire people and we have the answer to why the economy is not returning to better days.
You are assuming that sales remain the same. They haven't. I'm down to one truck and one employee (plus me) from eight guys and three trucks. Customers aren't spending money because no one knows what zero is going to destroy next.