Small business in America: See how much of ABQ’s economy is fueled by small biz

American City Business Journals this week is taking an in-depth look at small businesses in America. Coverage includes an unveiling of ACBJ's exclusive Small Business Vitality report: a ranking of 106 cities nationwide based on each city’s ability to foster the creation and development of small businesses.

Ahead of Thursday’s unveiling of that ranking, ACBJ is taking a look during the week at some of the variables that played into the 15-part Small Business Vitality formula.

On Monday, ACBJ looked at concentration of small businesses— namely, the number of small businesses (1-99 employees) in a city, expressed as a ratio per 100,000 residents of that city.

Here's a look at the percentage of private-sector jobs that are generated by small businesses in cities as of 2014, the most recent data available. Among cities where small businesses are furnishing the highest percentage of private-sector jobs, Albuquerque came in at No. 17 with 37 percent, ahead of Boise, Idaho, and Oklahoma City.

Cities in California and Florida top this list, filling the first five slots and seven of the top 10 — including No. 1: Santa Rosa, California. In New Mexico, the average private sector salary is $39,525, according to a report from the The Pew Charitable Trusts. The average state employee salary is $47,819.

Top 20: Where small businesses fill the highest percentage of private-sector jobs

1. Santa Rosa, California: 48.7 percent of local private-sector jobs generated by small businesses

2. Sarasota-Bradenton, Florida: 43.8 percent

3. Oxnard-Thousand Oaks, California: 42.6 percent

4. Cape Coral-Fort Myers, Florida: 41.2 percent

5. Daytona Beach, Florida: 40.6 percent

6. Portland, Maine: 39.7 percent

7. Miami: 39.5 percent

8. Spokane, Washington: 39 percent

9. Ogden, Utah: 38.6 percent

10. Fresno, California.: 38.3 percent

11. Providence, Rhode Island: 37.9 percent

12. Palm Bay-Melbourne, Florida: 37.8 percent

13. Charleston, South Carolina: 37.4 percent

14. New York: 37.3 percent

15. New Orleans: 37.2 percent

16. Portland, Oregon: 37.1 percent

17. Albuquerque: 37 percent

18. Boise, Idaho: 36.9 percent

19t. Oklahoma City: 36.8 percent

19t. Bridgeport-Stamford, Connecticut: 36.8 percent

Click here for the full article.