The Aspen Institute

Our national survey of business owners served by microenterprise programs gives us a broad numeric picture of microenterprise jobs. In-depth interviews with 104 microenterprise workers help us get a more detailed picture of what those jobs are like. Is a median wage of $12.50 an hour enough? Does having a stable or flexible schedule provide sufficient balance to the lack of benefits? What do workers think about their opportunities for growth, their working environment, and other elements that make a job good? Are investments into microenterprise programs to support these jobs a good investment of philanthropic and public money? Take a look at the numbers…