During an online survey, **** percent of surveyed small businesses in the United States said they had a decrease in their number of paid employees due to the COVID-19 pandemic during the week ending April 17, 2022. Another *** percent of respondents said that they had increased the number of employees during the same week.

The Office of Advocacy’s Small Business Profiles are an annual portrait of each state’s small business. They gather the latest federal data into state-by-state snapshots of small business health and economic activity. Limited economic data is also provided for the U.S. territories. This year’s profiles report on state economic growth and employment, income and finance, employer business owner demographics, turnover among establishments with employees, international trade, small business employment by industry and county, and self-employment by county, and small businesses by industry.

The Statistics of U.S. Businesses (SUSB) provides detailed annual data for all U.S. business establishments with paid employees by geography, industry, and enterprise size. This program covers all NAICS industries except crop and animal production; rail transportation; National Postal Service; pension, health, welfare, and vacation funds; trusts, estates, and agency accounts; private households; and public administration. The SUSB also excludes most government employees. Further, SUSB data for years 1988-1997 were tabulated based on the Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) system. The SUSB features several arts-related NAICS industries, including the following: Arts, entertainment, and recreation (NAICS Code 71) Performing arts companies Spectator sports Promoters of performing arts, sports, and similar events Independent artists, writers, and performers Museums, historical sites, and similar institutions Amusement parks and arcades Professional, scientific, and technical services (NAICS Code 54) Architectural services Graphic Design Services Landscape architectural services Photographic services Retail trade (NAICS Code 44-45) Sporting goods, hobby, and musical instrument stores Sewing, needlework, and piece goods stores Book stores Art dealers Also, the SUSB features several arts related SIC industries, including the following: Commercial photography (SIC Code 7335) Commercial art and graphic design (SIC Code 7336) Museums and art galleries (SIC Code 8412) Dance studios, schools, and halls (SIC Code 7911) Theatrical producers and services (SIC Code 7922) Sports clubs, managers, & promoters (SIC Code 7941) Motion Picture Production & Services (SIC Code 7810) Data compiled for the SUSB are extracted from the Business Register (BR). The BR contains continuously updated data from the Census Bureau's economic censuses and currently business surveys, quarterly and annual Federal tax records and other department and federal statistics. SUSB data are available approximately 24 months after each reference year and are available for the United States, each state, and Metropolitan Statistical Areas (MSA). The annual SUSB consist of number of firms, number of establishments, annual payroll, and employment during the week of March 12. In addition, estimated receipts data are included for years ending in 2 and 7. Dynamic data, which are created from the Business Information Tracking Series (BITS), consist of the number of establishments and corresponding employment change for births, deaths, expansions, and contractions. The SUSB is important because it provides the only source of annual, complete, and consistent enterprise-level data for U.S. businesses, with industry detail. Private businesses use the data for market research, strategic business planning, and managing sales territories. State and local governments, as well as, budget, economic development, and planning offices use the data to assess business changes, develop fiscal policies, and plan future policies and programs. In addition, the data are the standard reference source for small business statistics. Users can view the latest SUSB annual data and employment change data on the main SUSB page. For more detailed industry and employment size classes, users can download additional data in comma-delimited format. Annual data are tabulated back to 1988 and employment change data back to 1989-1990. Data users can find news and updates about the SUSB data via the News & Updates section.

During the week ending July 11, 2021, *** percent of surveyed small businesses in New York said in an online survey that they had a decrease in their number of paid employees due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In the previous month, *** percent of small businesses in the state reported the same.

During the week ending July 11, 2021, **** percent of surveyed small businesses in Pennsylvania said in an online survey that they had no change in their number of paid employees due to the COVID-19 pandemic. During the same week, *** percent of small businesses reported a decrease in paid employment.

During the week ending July 11, 2021, **** percent of surveyed small businesses in Montana said in an online survey that they had no change in their number of paid employees due to the COVID-19 pandemic. During the previous month, ** percent of small businesses reported an increase in paid employment.

Key small business statistics for 2025, covering total businesses, AI adoption, job creation, employment share, failure rates, non-employer firms, and top US states.

Nonemployer Statistics is an annual series that provides statistics on U.S. businesses with no paid employees or payroll, are subject to federal income taxes, and have receipts of $1,000 or more ($1 or more for the Construction sector). This program is authorized by the United States Code, Titles 13 and 26. Also, the collection provides data for approximately 450 North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) industries at the national, state, county, metropolitan statistical area, and combined statistical area geography levels. The majority of NAICS industries are included with some exceptions as follows: crop and animal production; investment funds, trusts, and other financial vehicles; management of companies and enterprises; and public administration. Data are also presented by Legal Form of Organization (LFO) (U.S. and state only) as filed with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). 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. Nonemployers Statistics features nonemployers in several arts-related industries and occupations, including the following: Arts, entertainment, and recreation (NAICS Code 71) Performing arts companies Spectator sports Promoters of performing arts, sports, and similar events Independent artists, writers, and performers Museums, historical sites, and similar institutions Amusement parks and arcades Professional, scientific, and technical services (NAICS Code 54) Architectural services Landscape architectural services Photographic services Retail trade (NAICS Code 44-45) Sporting goods, hobby, and musical instrument stores Sewing, needlework, and piece goods stores Book stores Art dealers Nonemployer Statistics 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. Prior to publication, the noise infusion method is applied to protect individual businesses from disclosure. Noise infusion was first applied to Nonemployer Statistics in 2005. Prior to 2005, data were suppressed using the complementary cell suppression method. For more information on the coverage and methods used in Nonemployer Statistics, refer to NES Methodology. 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 primary exception being the Survey of Business Owners). The Nonemployers Statistics series is the primary resource available to study the scope and activities of nonemployers at a detailed geographic level. For complementary statistics on the firms that do have paid employees, refer to the County Business Patterns. Additional sources of data on small businesses include the Economic Census, and the Statistics of U.S. Businesses. The annual Nonemployer Statistics data are available approximately 18 months after each reference year. Data for years since 2002 are published via comma-delimited format (csv) for spreadsheet or database use, and in the American FactFinder (AFF). For help accessing the data, please refer to the Data User Guide.

A comprehensive dataset covering small business statistics in 2025, including failure rates, growth data, average revenue, number of employees, and market insights.

Graph and download economic data for Nonfarm Private Employment in Small Establishments with 1 to 19 Employees (ADPWES1T19ENERSA) from 2010-01-09 to 2025-08-16 about 1 to 19, small, establishments, nonfarm, private, employment, and USA.

Graph and download economic data for Nonfarm Private Small Payroll Employment (1 - 49) (DISCONTINUED) (NPPTS) from Jan 2005 to May 2022 about 1 to 49, payrolls, nonfarm, private, employment, and USA.

SB: CA: CH: Difficulties Hiring Employees: N/A data was reported at 41.000 % in 11 Apr 2022. This records an increase from the previous number of 40.900 % for 04 Apr 2022. SB: CA: CH: Difficulties Hiring Employees: N/A data is updated weekly, averaging 41.600 % from Nov 2021 (Median) to 11 Apr 2022, with 18 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 46.900 % in 03 Jan 2022 and a record low of 37.900 % in 28 Mar 2022. SB: CA: CH: Difficulties Hiring Employees: N/A data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by U.S. Census Bureau. The data is categorized under Global Database’s United States – Table US.S053: Small Business Pulse Survey: by State: West Region: Weekly, Beg Monday (Discontinued).

SB: AK: OP: Change in Employees: Increased data was reported at 14.600 % in 31 May 2021. This records an increase from the previous number of 14.100 % for 24 May 2021. SB: AK: OP: Change in Employees: Increased data is updated weekly, averaging 14.350 % from May 2021 (Median) to 31 May 2021, with 2 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 14.600 % in 31 May 2021 and a record low of 14.100 % in 24 May 2021. SB: AK: OP: Change in Employees: Increased data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by U.S. Census Bureau. The data is categorized under Global Database’s United States – Table US.S053: Small Business Pulse Survey: by State: West Region: Weekly, Beg Monday (Discontinued).

Percentage of VAT registered businesses showing year-on-year employment growth. This indicator will include those businesses registered for VAT with less than 50 employment (around 98% of all VAT registered enterprises). It will measure the proportion of those businesses showing year on year employment growth, where employment is measured as the number of employees (full and part-time) plus the number of self-employed people that run the business.

During the week ending July 11, 2021, **** percent of surveyed small businesses in New Mexico said in an online survey that they had a decrease in their number of paid employees due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In the previous month, *** percent of small businesses in the state experienced a decrease in the number of paid employees.

During the week ending July 11, 2021,10.5 percent of surveyed small businesses in Colorado said in an online survey that they had a decrease in their number of paid employees due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This is an increase from the previous month, when *** percent of small businesses in the state reported a decrease in paid employment.

The Office of Advocacy’s Small Business Profiles are an annual analysis of each state’s small business activities. Each profile gathers the latest information from key federal data-gathering agencies to provide a snapshot of small business health and economic activity. This year’s profiles report on state economic growth and employment; small business employment, industry composition, and turnover; plus business owner demographics and county-level employment change.

During the week ending July 11, 2021, **** percent of surveyed small businesses in Hawaii said in an online survey that they had an increase in their number of paid employees due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The U.S. Census Bureau's Small Business Pulse Survey includes businesses that have ***** employees and receipts of 1,000 U.S. dollars or more.

United States SBOI: sa: Employment: Hiring Plans data was reported at 20.000 % in Jun 2018. This records an increase from the previous number of 18.000 % for May 2018. United States SBOI: sa: Employment: Hiring Plans data is updated monthly, averaging 11.000 % from Jan 1986 (Median) to Jun 2018, with 390 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 24.000 % in Nov 2017 and a record low of -10.000 % in Mar 2009. United States SBOI: sa: Employment: Hiring Plans data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by National Federation of Independent Business. The data is categorized under Global Database’s USA – Table US.S016: NFIB Index of Small Business Optimism.