Develop Austin Texas

Despite recession woes around the nation, the state of Texas has gained small businesses, according to the SBA. Their report covering the growth in 2008 outlines the specific numbers of new self employed persons. The state’s “entrepreneurial drive” is outpacing the rest of the nation, according to the Texas Association of Realors; despite the economy, Texas continues to attract small businesses. “Studies show that states such as Texas, with strong economic growth in recent years, are highly entrepreneurial,” says the Dallas Morning News.

Joseph Picken, executive director at the Institute for Innovation and Entrepreneurship at the University of Texas states that employment in Fortune 500 companies is declining, and “employment in the small business sector is creating all the new jobs.”

By the numbers:

• The number of self employed people nationwide fell 2 %

• The number of self employed people in Texas rose 2 %

• Current number of self employed people nationwide: 15.9 million

• Current number of self employed people in Texas: 1.1 million

• Number of employer firms in Texas: almost 450,000

• Percent increase of employer firms in Texas from 2007-2008: 1.4% (about 6,750)

• Almost 90% of those employer firms have less than 20 employees.