Alignable's Omicron Pulse Poll of 5,632 small-business owners (SMBs) in the U.S. and Canada this week shows that 44 percent are concerned about the latest coronavirus variant, Omicron, hurting their already-challenging economic recovery. Here are a few highlights:

  • The Omicron variant is even more daunting for disadvantaged groups including minority business owners: 69 percent of minorities polled expressed concern about Omicron affecting their recovery. The majority of women who own small businesses (52 percent) felt the same way. 
  • Industries that rely on in-person business are also very worried about what Omicron might do; 70 percent in travel, 69 percent of restaurant owners, 68 percent of massage therapists, 58 percent of retailers and 67 percent of event planners have expressed strong concerns.
  • Sixty percent of New York-based SMBs are nervous about Omicron, as well as 64 percent of those in Massachusetts, 57 percent in New Jersey and 54 percent in Michigan.
  • States with SMBs that are not as concerned include Texas (38 percent), Colorado (37 percent) and North Carolina (37 percent). 
  • More than half (53 percent) of Canadian SMBs are fearful about Omicron’s effects. The two most-worried provinces are Ontario (58 percent) and British Columbia (53 percent). 
  • To help control the potential damage Omicron could cause, 40 percent say they’re increasing basic health protocols, 23 percent say they’re getting a booster shot and 21 percent are investing more into marketing.

See the complete poll results here.