Omicron Variant Worrying Small Business Owners

As if small business owners hadn’t already enough to worry about with the ongoing Covid pandemic, now comes the new Omicron variant. A survey of 5,632 small business owners taken last week by Alignable found that 44% are concerned about Omicron hurting their already-challenging economic recovery. Here are some other highlights from the research:

• The Omicron variant is even more daunting for disadvantaged groups including minority business owners: 69% of minorities polled expressed concern about Omicron affecting their recovery. The majority of women who own small businesses (52%) felt the same way. 
• Industries that rely on in-person business are also very worried about what Omicron might do; 70% in travel, 69% of restaurant owners, 68% of massage therapists, and 58% of retailers have expressed strong concerns.
• 60% of New York-based small business owners are nervous about Omicron, as well as 64% of those in Massachusetts, 57% in New Jersey, and 54% in Michigan.
• States with small business owners that are not as concerned include Texas (38%), Colorado (37%), and North Carolina (37%). 
• To help control the potential damage Omicron could cause, 40% say they’re increasing basic health protocols, 23% say they’re getting a booster shot, and 21% are investing more into marketing.

You can view the complete results from Alignable's Omicron Pulse Poll here.