NES is annual, so the H1/H2 split is approximated — the 2024/25 estimate is based on trend. The H1 2020 dip is real; that’s businesses actually closing during lockdown before the massive surge kicked in.
The 30.4M nonemployer businesses in 2023 are an all-time record. Most of the post-2020 spike is people registering LLCs for gig work (Uber, DoorDash, Lyft, and so on)
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**Sources & methodology:**
Nonemployer businesses (sole props with zero employees) from the U.S. Census Bureau’s [Nonemployer Statistics](https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/nonemployer-statistics.html). Unemployment rate from the BLS. Both shown as semi-annual bars, 2012–2025.
NES is annual, so the H1/H2 split is approximated — the 2024/25 estimate is based on trend. The H1 2020 dip is real; that’s businesses actually closing during lockdown before the massive surge kicked in.
The 30.4M nonemployer businesses in 2023 are an all-time record. Most of the post-2020 spike is people registering LLCs for gig work (Uber, DoorDash, Lyft, and so on)
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