Small business owners and employees can have a much different experience at work than those whose careers in business brought them to large corporations. Because small businesses often fight to create a niche for themselves in the marketplace, employees of these companies can be more invested in their work product and more sensitive to market trends, especially given the recent economic woes.

Because the future of the economy is often abstract, optimism in the small business world can have far-reaching effects on hiring and investment trends, Reuters reports. The latest results of the American Express OPEN Small Business Monitor, a semi-annual survey of business owners, revealed that 55% of respondents have an optimistic attitude toward near-term business prospects, which is up 10% from March 2009.

Susan Sobbott, president of American Express OPEN told the news source, "For the first time since 2007, the majority of small businesses are optimistic about the near-term future, in part because of less competition."

Optimism is greatest among small businesses owned by a member of generation Y, a cohort which includes people born in the period between the late 1970's and late 1990's. According to the American Express OPEN survey, this group on average is 10% more likely to hire, and 25% more likely to take a financial risk than its older counterparts.

In a related study, the National Federation of Independent Business calculated in August that their Small Business Optimism Index rose 2.1 points to a level 7.6 points higher than a lull in March.