Data / Employer firms / California

Employer firms in California

Employer firms in California was 725,847 in 2023, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. That is up 1.1% from 2022. That is the 1st highest of 51 states in 2023.

2023, count725,847
Change on 2022+1.1%
Rank1st of 51US states ranked
Series high725,8472023
Series low388,3981978

Employer firms in California, 1978 to 2023

CSVChart (SVG)

300K400K500K600K700K800K19781985199219992006201320231978: 388,398 count1979: 411,751 count1980: 424,709 count1981: 433,401 count1982: 430,722 count1983: 438,902 count1984: 462,353 count1985: 476,452 count1986: 490,778 count1987: 504,402 count1988: 517,133 count1989: 528,215 count1990: 541,644 count1991: 539,337 count1992: 531,518 count1993: 526,574 count1994: 526,641 count1995: 531,577 count1996: 536,734 count1997: 542,404 count1998: 553,436 count1999: 561,198 count2000: 569,105 count2001: 574,491 count2002: 578,004 count2003: 587,014 count2004: 595,745 count2005: 606,436 count2006: 624,038 count2007: 631,940 count2008: 625,520 count2009: 608,810 count2010: 597,479 count2011: 598,168 count2012: 606,523 count2013: 612,090 count2014: 623,004 count2015: 633,030 count2016: 644,397 count2017: 652,550 count2018: 661,397 count2019: 672,173 count2020: 685,122 count2021: 683,804 count2022: 718,289 count2023: 725,847 count
count. Source: U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved 2026-10-10, published 2025-09-25.
All 46 values
Periodcount
2023725,847
2022718,289
2021683,804
2020685,122
2019672,173
2018661,397
2017652,550
2016644,397
2015633,030
2014623,004
2013612,090
2012606,523
2011598,168
2010597,479
2009608,810
2008625,520
2007631,940
2006624,038
2005606,436
2004595,745
2003587,014
2002578,004
2001574,491
2000569,105
1999561,198
1998553,436
1997542,404
1996536,734
1995531,577
1994526,641
1993526,574
1992531,518
1991539,337
1990541,644
1989528,215
1988517,133
1987504,402
1986490,778
1985476,452
1984462,353
1983438,902
1982430,722
1981433,401
1980424,709
1979411,751
1978388,398

Compared with United States

Place2023
California725,847
United States5,593,727

Rankings

Definition

Number of firms in the private nonfarm sectors covered by the US Census Bureau Business Dynamics Statistics. Establishments under common ownership form one firm.

Excludes nonemployer businesses and other activities outside the BDS scope. A firm operating in several states or counties is counted in each area, so geographic counts cannot be added to reproduce the national total. This differs from the INE DIRCE active-company count, which includes businesses without employees. Past values can be revised.

How to cite

U.S. Census Bureau. Business Dynamics Statistics: employer firms, all covered industries, nation, states and counties. https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/bds/tables/time-series/2023/bds2023_st.csv. Retrieved 2026-10-10.

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Questions

What is the employer firms in California?

Employer firms in California was 725,847 in 2023, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. That is up 1.1% from 2022. That is the 1st highest of 51 states in 2023.

Where does this figure come from?

U.S. Census Bureau. Business Dynamics Statistics: employer firms, all covered industries, nation, states and counties. Retrieved by Invokely on 2026-10-10.

What was the highest employer firms in California?

725,847 in 2023, the highest value since 1978 in this series.

More statistics for California

All statistics for California