Data / Employer firms / Illinois

Employer firms in Illinois

Employer firms in Illinois was 222,365 in 2023, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. That is down 0.1% from 2022. That is the 5th highest of 51 states in 2023.

2023, count222,365
Change on 2022-0.1%
Rank5th of 51US states ranked
Series high228,5342007
Series low179,1881978

Employer firms in Illinois, 1978 to 2023

CSVChart (SVG)

170K180K190K200K210K220K230K19781985199219992006201320231978: 179,188 count1979: 182,534 count1980: 182,852 count1981: 182,492 count1982: 180,203 count1983: 183,223 count1984: 186,381 count1985: 187,361 count1986: 190,045 count1987: 191,935 count1988: 195,535 count1989: 198,788 count1990: 202,697 count1991: 202,501 count1992: 202,880 count1993: 206,745 count1994: 210,255 count1995: 214,368 count1996: 215,647 count1997: 216,941 count1998: 219,962 count1999: 220,530 count2000: 220,860 count2001: 219,947 count2002: 218,472 count2003: 219,808 count2004: 222,620 count2005: 224,878 count2006: 227,899 count2007: 228,534 count2008: 226,207 count2009: 220,842 count2010: 217,948 count2011: 217,505 count2012: 218,472 count2013: 218,219 count2014: 218,155 count2015: 219,596 count2016: 221,163 count2017: 220,926 count2018: 220,582 count2019: 220,416 count2020: 218,378 count2021: 218,884 count2022: 222,586 count2023: 222,365 count
count. Source: U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved 2026-10-10, published 2025-09-25.
All 46 values
Periodcount
2023222,365
2022222,586
2021218,884
2020218,378
2019220,416
2018220,582
2017220,926
2016221,163
2015219,596
2014218,155
2013218,219
2012218,472
2011217,505
2010217,948
2009220,842
2008226,207
2007228,534
2006227,899
2005224,878
2004222,620
2003219,808
2002218,472
2001219,947
2000220,860
1999220,530
1998219,962
1997216,941
1996215,647
1995214,368
1994210,255
1993206,745
1992202,880
1991202,501
1990202,697
1989198,788
1988195,535
1987191,935
1986190,045
1985187,361
1984186,381
1983183,223
1982180,203
1981182,492
1980182,852
1979182,534
1978179,188

Compared with United States

Place2023
Illinois222,365
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 Illinois?

Employer firms in Illinois was 222,365 in 2023, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. That is down 0.1% from 2022. That is the 5th 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 Illinois?

228,534 in 2007, the highest value since 1978 in this series.

More statistics for Illinois

All statistics for Illinois