A snapshot of the survey findings include: Globally, 57% of entrepreneurs reported an increase in total full-time headcount during the six months preceding the survey, compared with only 42% who made that claim a year ago.

• A full 68% of entrepreneurs expect to increase their number of full-time employees in the coming six months.
• 62% of entrepreneurs globally reported an increase in net profits in the six months prior to the June 2011 survey. This figure is up 25% from the June 2010 survey, when only 37% reported increased profits.

Dr Sally Ernst, the lead researcher on the Global Entrepreneur Indicator initiative, said;

“Despite financial troubles in the eurozone, political upheaval in Middle East and continued uncertainty in the U.S. markets, it is interesting to note that entrepreneurs have been creating jobs and increasing profits. This speaks to the uniqueness of entrepreneurs, as their flexibility and adaptability allow them to find opportunity in downturned economies.”

Shayne Nelson, Global Head of Standard Chartered Private Bank said;

“The majority of our clients are entrepreneurs and business owners who play a critical role in economic development and growth through job and wealth creation. We aim to support their business needs and grow their personal wealth. Specifically, we leverage our advantage of being part of a universal bank which gives them greater access to advice and expertise, particularly in SME Banking and Wholesale Banking.”

As the day-to-day decision makers at successful companies, entrepreneurs can illuminate and predict the state of the global economy better than any other segment of the population. EO and Standard Chartered Private Bank are uniquely positioned to reveal trends in business and the economy, and the survey targets the world’s leading entrepreneurs to best read the pulse of commerce.

The survey focuses in part on performance-related metrics such as jobs, profits and debt loads. The other factors the survey explores are related to the business climate, such as access to capital, predictions on the economy and even entrepreneurs’ proclivity to start a new business. These statistics and metrics are all important, but the story that the full, combined data tells is perhaps most compelling.

The most recent iteration of the Global Entrepreneur Indicator provides the study’s first look at year-over-year comparisons and trends. While entrepreneurs have seen a steady increase in their performance on metrics such as job creation and profitability, there are some signs of fatigue when it comes to the economy and the overall business environment.

The Global Entrepreneur Indicator research project is one of the activities resulting from the strategic partnership between EO and The Private Bank, which will enable them to leverage their unique networks to exchange knowledge and conduct in-depth, powerful joint research projects. The Private Bank has an extensive international network across over 70 countries in Asia, Africa, the Middle East, Europe and Americas. The Entrepreneurs’ Organization, one of the biggest global networks of business owners, has a membership of more than 8,000 business owners across 40 countries.

The Global Entrepreneur Indicator produces reports based on global data, as well as region-specific reports for the United States, Europe / the Middle East, Asia / the Pacific, Canada and Latin America / the Caribbean. All findings, reports and analysis are published on the Global Entrepreneur Indicator Web site.