The U.S. economy and workforce landscape have seen many dramatic changes in the past three decades, not just in terms of trends, crises, and types of jobs workers pursue, but also in the way we work and structure careers. The team at Ooma created a new study displaying trending changes in self-employment. Their chart shows the percentage of the workforce that was self-employed each year. The numbers show that self-employment has always played a strong role in the American economy, with new Internet and digital industries pushing it to evolve. These changes present new opportunities and shake-ups to old work patterns.

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The Rise and Fall of Traditional Self-Employment

Ooma’s analysis is based on data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. It shows that in 1994, self-employment represented 12.2% of the workforce. That’s 14.93 million Americans, a peak representing an economy where entrepreneurs, freelancers, contractors, and trades workers formed the backbone of the economy.

The next two decades saw a shift in self-employment, however. It declined to 9.8% by 2018, representing a shift to corporate employment in the era of social media and dot-com booms. The economy was recovering from a major recession that affected self-employed workers. Workers needed stability and benefits, and they turned away from gig work during the recession, with numbers plummeting to 59% in 2023.

The Impact of the Internet

Smartphone technology was developed in the late 1990s and perfected throughout the 2000s until it became a force that transformed the way we work. New apps like Uber, Instacart, and DoorDash ushered in a huge demand for gig work in the form of delivery drivers and people who could transform their own car into a taxi service. These platforms offered many work opportunities on top of a flexible schedule. People using these apps to get jobs could work whenever they wished.

Social media offered other exciting self-employment opportunities as we watched the rise of influencers and content creators who could market all kinds of digital goods and other services. A digital ecosystem made it more possible for personal brands to affordably market themselves to a wider audience.

The Pandemic as a Catalyst

The COVID-19 pandemic prompted huge changes in the way we work. Businesses closed down, layoffs surged, and many people looked for the quickest way to get flexible new employment. Self-employment options were the most accessible for many people. The self-employment workforce rose again to 4.2% in 2020. Many began to feel that starting their own business was more reliable than trusting a corporation. Marginalized people were especially drawn to self-employment, particularly women with families, and Black and Hispanic women. The flexible scheduling and greater power over work decisions was a more equitable fit for these women.

The team’s data proves that self-employment is so much more than just an alternative career choice. It can be an equalizer and drive American innovation. Self-employment can be a huge boost to local communities and continues to serve a vital role in our economy.

Ooma’s new infographic shows that data breaches are a huge concern and much more common than we would like to think. Their new graphic offers 30 statistic-based facts that show us the harsh reality. Companies have limited time to react to data breaches before they hit the news cycle, and software developers have to stay on their toes to prevent security threats. Data breaches hand over customer contact details, proprietary software, and employee information to bad actors, so taking these threats seriously is of the utmost importance.

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Record High Levels of Financial Damage

The financial stakes of data breaches have never been higher. The data shows that in 2024, the average global cost of a data breach reached an all-time high of $4.88 million, a 10% increase. On average, American organizations bear the highest costs, at $9.36 million per breach. The U.S. healthcare industry is hit the hardest, with average data breach costs around $9.77 million.

Mega breaches incur the highest costs and the most damage. A mega breach involves over a million records and costs an enormous $375 million to rectify. The largest data breach was the Change Healthcare attack in February 2024, which exposed 190 million medical records and caused over $2 billion in damages. This was the largest medical data breach in American history.

Human Error Leads to Cyberattacks

55% of all data breaches are malicious attacks, with the remaining attacks split between human error and system failures. This shows that nearly half of breaches are due to internal vulnerabilities instead of being caused by the power of a sophisticated external attack. Out of all applications, Microsoft Office suffers 69.1% of cyberattacks, which means that everyday office tools can become a major target, taking advantage of employee vulnerability.

When someone inside an organization leads the attack, the expenses are highest, averaging $4.99 million. Ransomware is still a big danger, with the costs of attacks increasing by 500% between 2023 and 2024 and the average recovery cost around $2.73 million.

Delays in Detection and Containment

The amount of time it takes for organizations to detect a data breach is a bit shocking. It takes an average of 204 days to discover the breach and then another 73 days to contain it. That’s a nearly 10-month data exposure window. Most distressing is the fact that personal data breaches take the longest to detect and contain – an average of 292 days.

Recovery and Data Breach Prevention

The aftermath of a data breach remains a big challenge. Only 12% of businesses report making a full financial recovery after the breach. 70% of breached organizations have significant disruptions to business, and only 1% describe the breach as low-impact. Healthcare businesses have the longest-lasting effects with major damage to their reputation. They need to spend 79% more on marketing for the two years following a data breach. Strategic investments in cybersecurity offer stronger protection, and using AI in security operations can save around $2.2 million. Overall, this graphic emphasizes the importance of investing in strong cybersecurity.

Ooma’s new study gives crucial insight into small business ownership with a map and analysis comparing average yearly salaries in every state and Washington, D.C. The study offers key insights into the world of entrepreneurship today. They used data from ZipRecruiter to create a map that systematically compares wages across the country. The team also shows that the national average annual wage across industries is $66,621, providing invaluable context for the listed salaries.

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The maps contain geographic insight into earning potential. We see Washington state in the lead with small business owners earning an impressive $144,941 a year on average. That’s an incredible 127.2% higher than the national average salaries. The team points out that the Pacific Northwest is a small business hotspot for a reason. Seattle and the Puget Sound area are hubs for innovation and technology, supported by helpful infrastructure for small businesses, plentiful coworking space, and fresh talent setting out on their own after building experience with huge companies like Google, Microsoft, and Amazon. These factors have created an environment where small businesses can not only survive but thrive thanks to low business taxes and a talented pool of entrepreneurs and employees.

The data shows that 15 states and Washington, D.C., have earning averages that are double the national average. Washington, D.C., came in second place for small business owner wages at $144,612. It’s another technology hub that enjoys the benefits of being the nation’s capital, with access to government incentives and programs that can help entrepreneurs get their ideas off the ground.

The team’s analysis didn’t look away from more challenging regions. Florida had the lowest annual salary at $95,633 a year, though, as we can see, small business owners in Florida still earn more than the national wage average. Florida is a competitive market driven by tourism, yet small business ownership is still a lucrative option here. Ooma explains that Florida business owners do face unique challenges, like a tourism market that ebbs and flows with economic changes, fewer benefits for business owners, and a high concentration of small businesses.

Apart from the pure data, we can find lots of interesting context that helps us understand regional business climates. Cost of living and market dynamics influence how much entrepreneurs can earn, and we can see facts like this visualized in the colorful map the team created. Data that could be complex becomes easy to digest and quick to reference.

Ooma did an excellent job transforming data into geographic insights that can offer people practical small business guidance. Aspiring entrepreneurs can use the data here to launch a new idea, relocate or expand successfully, while industry observers can learn new things about the small business climate. Rigorous data, practical insights, and smooth visuals combine to create an enjoyable and practical presentation of small business owner wage data.