Interest in self-employment rises among those laid off and college students

Tom Breckenridge
The Plain Dealer

Steve Giordano is 55 and jobless, miffed that the layoff broom swept him from the corporate world five weeks ago.
A return to the ranks of wage slaves leaves him chilled. So the sales-and-marketing executive is hot on the idea of being his own boss.
Like others adrift in a dismal economy, the North Ridgeville resident is considering starting his own business.
"If you do a good job, you won't face corporate downsizing again," said Giordano, who is researching business-to-business franchises. "You're not at the whims of someone else who wants to target you."
He's not alone. Local advocates for entrepreneurship say interest in self-employment rose in recent months, not only among those laid off but also among college students facing the toughest job market in a lifetime.

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