LABOR COSTS
Average hourly compensation costs (wages, benefits, payroll taxes) for manufacturing workers, out of 34 surveyed countries:
1. Norway $53.89
14. U.S.A. $33.53
34. Philippines $1.50
Bureau of Labor Statistics
WORK-LIFE BALANCE
Share of small-business owners who say they would rather have more time than more money: 30%
Wakefield Research/Brother International
THE ECONOMY
Jobs
Job creation in the United States in 2010:
Most Jobs Added: Texas 235,700
Most Jobs Lost: New Jersey 17,000
Wages
Average pay for employees (salaried and hourly):
Highest Rate: Massachusetts $25.34/hour
Lowest Rate: South Dakota $16.02/hour
Bureau of Labor Statistics, 12/09—12/10
MARKETING
Portion of consumers who have "unliked" a company on Facebook because of excessive postings: 63%
Share of consumers who have unsubscribed to a company's e-mail list because of excessive e-mail: 54%
ExactTarget
START-UPS
Amount of venture capitalist investments in 2010, nearly 20 percent more than in 2009: $21.8 Billion
National Venture Capital Association
CUSTOMER SERVICE
Share of small-business owners who consider the ability to respond quickly to customer service issues the biggest benefit of running a small business: 84%
Wakefield Research/Brother International