wth. 50% of the private workforce in the US are employed by companies of less than 50 people. Firms of less than 500 people employ 80% of workers. US ISM v MRB Small Business Optimism Index 65 110 60 105 55 100 50 95 45 40 IYM • 85 35 8 9 0 •-• eV eV 0 0 0 0 0 0 43 43 CO 9 03