The May jobs report recently released by the Bureau of Labor Statistics shows that a mere 38,000 jobs were created last month, the lowest monthly jobs gain since 2010. This year has been the weakest start to a year in terms of job creation since 2009.

Commentators blamed the weak jobs number on bad weather, a strike at Verizon, and Donald Trump. But a more direct cause is the ongoing stagnation of American small businesses, which provide three-quarters of the country’s new jobs and half its overall jobs.