Recently in the Jobs Category

The U.S. Census Bureau has announced the most recent data on women-owned businesses, and the results are eye-opening. The data was collected as part of the 2007 Survey of Business Owners (SBO). Although the full report is not expected to be released until later this year, these preliminary findings offer valuable input on the status of women-owned businesses.
 
The data shows the growth and strength of women-owned businesses, and their contribution to the U.S. economy. Here are some key numbers:
 
·        Between 2002 and 2007, the number of women-owned businesses (51% or more owned by women) has increased by 20.1% since 2002.

·        The total number of women-owned, nonfarm businesses is 7.8 million.

·        Women-owned businesses accounted for 28.7% of all nonfarm businesses in the U.S.

·        Women-owned businesses employ 6.4% of the total U.S. workforce.

Wall Street Journalist David Weidner argues a strong case in his recent article entitled "Crashing the White House Jobs Summit: Small Business Has Been Left Out, Maybe That's Why There Are No Jobs." He points out that although the general public was shocked last week at the ease with which crashers snuck into the White House Forum - they in turn accomplished what few businesses owners have been able to do: get attention from the White House.

With small businesses serving as the engine to the U.S. economic recovery, its essential that we continue to progress forward with lifting ourselves out of this financial crisis. Citigroup Inc. and General Motors Co. each received $50 billion in direct aid from the government; while small businesses have recieved less than $400 million in new loans under the stimulus bill, tax breaks, and a program that buys up to $15 billion in securities tied to small business loans.

Small businesses have generated 64% of all new jobs created in the last 15 years and employ half of all U.S. workers, according to the SBA. The nation's 29.6 million small businesses also drive the nation's innovation, producing 13 patents for every one patent generated by big corporations with research and development arms.

Upon review of this overwhelming evidence - the government's decision to not bail out CIT Group, Inc., a primary lender to small businesses leaves many small business owners scratching their heads in bewilderment.

Want to learn more? WIPP National Partner Rose Wang and WIPP Member Theresa Daytner represented the voice of WIPP at the White House Forum, advocating on behalf of the nation's small business owners. They will give a briefing on their participation at the forum this Thursday, December 10th - open to all WIPP dues-paying members. Have you made your voice heard lately? Participate in the call and be updated on whats going on on the Hill that will DIRECTLY affect your business. Click here to register.

Rose Wang, WIPP Advocacy Partner, is participating in the White House Forum on Jobs and Economic Growth - live streaming today! The opening session of the forum as well as each of the six individual breakout sessions will be live streamed at www.whitehouse.gov/live and we encourage all WIPP members to participate.
 
Descriptions of the six sessions (including a session on clean energy and innovation) are below:
 
 

THE WHITE HOUSE

Office of the Press Secretary

_______________________________________________________________________________________

FOR PLANNING PURPOSES ONLY                               

December 2, 2009

MEDIA ADVISORY: FOR PLANNING PURPOSES ONLY

Forum on Jobs and Economic Growth 

WASHINGTON, DC - The Obama Administration will hold a Forum on Jobs and Economic Growth on Thursday, December 3rd at the White House.  The forum will be an opportunity for the President and the economic team to hear from some of the leading CEOs, small business owners, labor leaders, nonprofit heads and thinkers about ideas for continuing to grow the economy and put Americans back to work. Following the opening session, senior administration officials will host discussions on job creation and expanding the economy.

The opening and closing session of the Jobs and Economic Growth Forum will be pooled press and the discussions on jobs will be print pool only. To be included in the pool report distribution list, please email press@who.eop.gov. The opening session, closing session, and several of the discussion groups on jobs will be streamed live on www.whitehouse.gov/live.

FORUM ON JOBS AND ECONOMIC GROWTH SCHEDULE:

1:20PM           OPENING SESSION - Remarks by Secretary of Labor Hilda Solis, Video, Remarks by Vice President Joe Biden and Remarks by President Barack Obama           

2:00PM           DISCUSSIONS ON JOBS

 - The Innovation Agenda and Green Jobs of the Future - Building on the historic energy technology in the Recovery Act, the jobs summit will include a breakout group to discuss  new and additional ideas for creating green jobs, including through encouraging energy efficiency  and  investment in renewable technologies.

Moderator: Secretary of Energy, Steven Chu and Assistant to the President for Energy and Climate Change, Carol Browner

- Paving the Road for Small Business Job Growth - Over the course of the last few weeks, the Administration has announced several initiatives to increase access to capital for small businesses in communities across the country.  In addition to making government funds available to small banks and supporting an increase in the SBA loans that have provided essential funding, the economic team looks forward to hearing from small business leaders and others about what additional steps would be most effective in encouraging small businesses to taking the next step in hiring.

Moderator: Secretary of Treasury, Timothy Geithner and Small Business Administration Administrator, Karen Mills

- Creating Jobs through the Rebuilding of America's Infrastructure -The Recovery Act has been a successful tool in putting Americans back to work in communities across the country and investment in infrastructure will continue to reap benefits through 2010.  The breakout group will focus on the best ways to make infrastructure investment a longer term commitment to helping the economy continue on a path to recovery. 

Moderator: Secretary of Transportation, Ray LaHood and Director of the White House Office of Management and Budget, Peter Orszag

- Expanding Job Opportunities for American Workers Through Exports - There is no question that the rebuilt American economy needs to be more export driven and less consumption driven in order for the United States to continue to have strong and sustainable job creation and economic growth. The forum will have a breakout group focused on how we can continue to take advantage of the rebound in global trade and how to change the tide from consumption driven to export driven growth.

Moderator: Director of the National Economic Council, Lawrence Summers and President and Chairman of the Export-Import Bank of the United States, Fred Hochberg

- Encouraging Business Competitiveness and Job Creation - There are limits to what government can and should do, even during such difficult times and the importance over the long term of the partnership between the public and private sectors. This breakout will be a substantive discussion on ways to encourage businesses to invest and create jobs.

Moderator: Secretary of Commerce, Gary Locke and Chair of the Council of Economic Advisors, Christina Romer

- Preparing Workers and Strengthening Main Street - As the economy recovers, we need to take the necessary steps to retrain workers in fields that are no longer growing and better prepare the next generation of the workforce for the jobs and economy of the future. This session will focus on the challenges facing main street as it seeks to prosper, grow and create jobs.

Moderator: Secretary of Labor, Hilda Solis and Director of White House Domestic Policy Council, Melody Barnes 

3:45PM           CLOSING SESSION - Remarks by Secretary of Commerce Gary Locke & Remarks and Discussion led by President Barack Obama