Kari Parker

How Small Business Owners Are Dealing With Worker Shortages, Inflation and Supply Chain Delays

Joe Wall, Allison Nathan, Ruby Bugarin, Kari Parker, Rosemary Swirk

Goldman Sachs' "10,000 Small Businesses Voices" initiative released September survey data revealing a sharp 29-point decline in small business optimism driven by the Delta variant, inflation, and severe workforce shortages. The report details how specific sectors face record operating costs and supply chain delays, while Black-owned businesses struggle with lower capital confidence and depleted cash reserves compared to the broader market. In response to these challenges, the organization is calling for a permanent low-interest loan program and federal procurement reforms to address the systemic lack of representation and resource disparity.