A data brief by Carl Van Horn and Jessica Starace of the John J. Heldrich Center for Workforce Development examines the responses of women- and minority-owned businesses and white, men-owned businesses in New Jersey to survey questions about business closures and the financial impact due to the COVID-19 public health crisis.
The New Jersey COVID-19 Business and Organization survey collected the responses of ~1,608 women- and minority-owned businesses and ~1,510 white, men-owned businesses in New Jersey between May 21 and June 3, 2020. This data brief summarizes the response differences across these two groups of business owners on questions about business closures and financial impact due to the COVID-19 public health crisis. On many questions, owners reported similar responses based on their experiences from the restrictions put on their businesses and the public as a result of the pandemic. However, the findings show that, to some degree, women- and minority-owned businesses experienced a more significant financial toll on their operations, compared to white, men-owned businesses.