On May 10, President Donald Trump recognized the role of small businesses in the U.S. economy during National Small Business Day, highlighting that small business operators account for roughly 40% of overall economic activity.
The remarks came as the Labor Department’s April jobs report showed the U.S. added 115,000 jobs while the unemployment rate remained unchanged at 4.3%.
During a live Fox News segment, small business expert Gene Marks discussed what the latest labor data and the president’s comments could mean for entrepreneurs and employers moving forward.
According to Mark, small businesses contribute between 40% and 50% of the nation’s GDP and are expected to hire more than 1 million college graduates this year. He suggests that most of the fastest-growing opportunities for new graduates are emerging in “AI-proof” positions, including field managers, service technicians, and other hands-on operational roles less vulnerable to automation.
“AI is the single biggest issue that is going to be impacting decisions made by small business owners for the next few years."
He added that businesses centered around technology, administrative work, and office-based tasks are likely to experience significant disruption as AI adoption accelerates, forcing many small businesses to rethink hiring strategies, workforce planning, and operational structures.
Marks alluded that the shift could prompt employers to prioritize workers with technical, customer-facing, and field-service skills as AI increasingly handles repetitive administrative functions.
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