Americans set record with nearly six million new-business applications

7 articles · Updated · Business Insider · Apr 24

Business applications reached an all-time high through March, driven by AI advances, layoffs, and return-to-office mandates at major firms like Amazon, Google, Microsoft, Meta, and Wells Fargo.
Many former Big Tech employees are launching AI-focused startups, citing both opportunity and dissatisfaction with corporate life. The trend reflects a shift from pandemic-era motivations to new economic and technological forces.
While entrepreneurship offers flexibility and autonomy, it brings financial risks; only a third of new businesses survive a decade. Self-employed workers report higher job quality, but many prepare financially before leaving stable jobs.

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