Visualizing the Middle Market
The Middle Market not only accounts for a third of private sector GDP and jobs, but over the last four years it’s been leading the way in terms of viability, resilience and growth. View our “Leading from the Middle (Market)” data visualization, and gain critical insights into this driving force behind the U.S. economy.
Studying the market that moves America
When it comes to economic development and employment growth, people tend to focus on either small local businesses or large multi-national corporations. But what about the gap in the middle? To learn more, GE Capital partnered with The Ohio State University Fisher College of Business to conduct the largest-ever study of American mid-market businesses.
The Middle Market is diverse
Defined as companies with revenue between $10MM and $1B annually, the Middle Market includes an incredible diversity of business structures. Some of these businesses are just transitioning from being start-ups. Some are well established enterprises with solid growth and consistent business practices. And some are firms that are either already large global corporations, or are starting to resemble them. At every revenue level, you’ll find community pillars that are driving their local and regional economies.
As the economy shrank, the Middle Market thrived
Despite the recession, the sector has prospered. Between 2005 and 2010, the top 20% of Middle Market companies with public financing grew at an average annual rate of over 26%—nearly 10 times the rate of GDP growth. In fact, a number of Middle Market businesses did so well they actually grew out of the sector. A full 27% of all large companies in 2010 were Middle Market firms in 2005—and this dramatic growth occurred while the U.S. economy as a whole was shrinking.
The Middle Market as an engine for economic growth
The Middle Market has proven to be the most sustainable source of American jobs and revenues. Through the recession, surviving middle market businesses added more than two million jobs, while surviving large businesses shed nearly four million. Middle Market firms added, on average, more than 20 jobs per business, while surviving large companies downsized by more than 2,000.
There is continued cause for optimism. Driven by a focus on attracting new customers and adopting new channels, 80% of Middle Market companies expect to grow over the next 12 months. View our “Leading from the Middle (Market)” data visualization, to get a better understanding of this burgeoning sector of the U.S. economy.
About GE Data Visualization
As complex data becomes a greater part of our daily lives, GE is using data visualization to make this information clearer and easier to understand. Whether we’re making sense of millions of health care records or showing how improved aircraft navigation systems can reduce carbon dioxide emissions while also shortening flight times for passengers, data plays an essential role across all of GE's businesses. To see more data visualizations, and to download, post and share these visualizations, go to http://visualization.geblogs.com/