[21twelve]

I think the idea isn't that the entrepreneur is the one having a “job” - it is that the entrepreneur hires 2-20 people for his business. 100,000 new businesses (back in the 80’s) means 200,000 to 2,000,000 new jobs.

And of course it goes the other way when 70,000 businesses close.

[Paul R.]

I think the idea isn't that the entrepreneur is the one having a “job” - it is that the entrepreneur hires 2-20 people for his business. 100,000 new businesses (back in the 80’s) means 200,000 to 2,000,000 new jobs. And of course it goes the other way when 70,000 businesses close.

I've no disagreement with that. But (if I may) I think Alberta's point was that, at least in the short term, the loss of small business jobs (including both small business owners and employees) can be "made up for" in the U1 stats by hiring by big business or gov't. What doesn't show immediately is the dynamism in the economy that having many small businesses brings, and even more so, the "character" of the country.

Perhaps I am not stating this well - Alberta probably can say it better than I can, early in the morning & still a bit groggy! :-)