Data / Employer firms / United States

Employer firms in United States

Employer firms in the United States was 5.59 million in 2023, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. That is up 0.9% from 2022.

2023, count5,593,727
Change on 2022+0.9%
Series high5,593,7272023
Series low3,560,3181978

Employer firms in United States, 1978 to 2023

CSVChart (SVG)

3.5M4M4.5M5M5.5M6M19781985199219992006201320231978: 3,560,318 count1979: 3,692,635 count1980: 3,739,767 count1981: 3,768,498 count1982: 3,741,859 count1983: 3,830,757 count1984: 4,001,390 count1985: 4,073,155 count1986: 4,158,219 count1987: 4,223,952 count1988: 4,308,236 count1989: 4,382,013 count1990: 4,445,528 count1991: 4,412,581 count1992: 4,413,841 count1993: 4,495,611 count1994: 4,575,281 count1995: 4,674,006 count1996: 4,721,540 count1997: 4,776,424 count1998: 4,853,548 count1999: 4,883,018 count2000: 4,902,719 count2001: 4,912,908 count2002: 4,929,332 count2003: 4,991,927 count2004: 5,084,924 count2005: 5,166,062 count2006: 5,254,916 count2007: 5,291,526 count2008: 5,230,315 count2009: 5,088,072 count2010: 5,016,353 count2011: 4,993,099 count2012: 5,039,673 count2013: 5,064,208 count2014: 5,100,719 count2015: 5,146,908 count2016: 5,212,130 count2017: 5,246,978 count2018: 5,281,916 count2019: 5,330,349 count2020: 5,335,214 count2021: 5,391,471 count2022: 5,541,603 count2023: 5,593,727 count
count. Source: U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved 2026-10-10, published 2025-09-25.
All 46 values
Periodcount
20235,593,727
20225,541,603
20215,391,471
20205,335,214
20195,330,349
20185,281,916
20175,246,978
20165,212,130
20155,146,908
20145,100,719
20135,064,208
20125,039,673
20114,993,099
20105,016,353
20095,088,072
20085,230,315
20075,291,526
20065,254,916
20055,166,062
20045,084,924
20034,991,927
20024,929,332
20014,912,908
20004,902,719
19994,883,018
19984,853,548
19974,776,424
19964,721,540
19954,674,006
19944,575,281
19934,495,611
19924,413,841
19914,412,581
19904,445,528
19894,382,013
19884,308,236
19874,223,952
19864,158,219
19854,073,155
19844,001,390
19833,830,757
19823,741,859
19813,768,498
19803,739,767
19793,692,635
19783,560,318

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.csv. Retrieved 2026-10-10.

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Questions

What is the employer firms in United States?

Employer firms in the United States was 5.59 million in 2023, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. That is up 0.9% from 2022.

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 United States?

5.59 million in 2023, the highest value since 1978 in this series.

More statistics for United States

All statistics for United States