Nonemployer Statistics by Demographics - External

Description

Nonemployer Statistics (NES) is an annual series that provides subnational economic data by industry. NES data are for businesses that have no paid employees and are subject to federal income tax. Most nonemployers are self-employed individuals operating unincorporated businesses (known as sole proprietorships), which may or may not be the owner's principal source of income.

Detailed Methodology

Sample

Data are presented by geographic area, industry detail, legal form of organization (U.S. and state only), and receipt size class (U.S. only). Annual data consist of number of establishments and total receipts.

Method of Data Collection

Mixed or multi modes

Frequency of Data Collection

Annually

Reference Date

Last year/last 12 months

Data Collection Notes

The majority of all business establishments in the United States are nonemployers, yet these firms average less than 4 percent of all sales and receipts nationally. Due to their small economic impact, these firms are excluded from most other Census Bureau business statistics. The NES is the result of a research project by the Census Bureau to complete the picture of U.S. business ownership by demographics for the United States. The NES was developed to produce similar estimates as the Annual Business Survey (ABS) on owner demographics for nonemployer businesses. To request the ABS, see RDG 2472.

NES data originate from statistical information obtained through business income tax records that the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) provides to the Census Bureau. The data are processed through various automated and analytical review to eliminate employers from the tabulation, correct and complete data items, remove anomalies, and validate geography coding and industry classification.