Lost amid the coverage of the recent May Day protests is the fact that this week is National Small Business Week, which celebrates the contributions that the country’s 28 million small businesses make to the economy.

Roughly 85 million people rely on small businesses for their livelihood. Small businesses account for half of existing jobs and two-thirds of new jobs in the country. They create many of the products and services we enjoy every day. Unfortunately, small businesses still have not fully recovered from the Great Recession, and neither have the local Main Streets that rely on them.

The business regulations that protesters call for would only increase the hurdles facing small businesses. According to a new Job Creators Network survey of small business owners, most say the existing regulatory environment already prevents them from hiring and thriving.

This negative impact of new regulations should be included in any media coverage of protests. This is especially true during National Small Business Week.

Alfredo Ortiz

president and CEO

Job Creators Network