Nonemployer Statistics by Demographics (NES-D) - Using Administrative and Census Records Data in Business Statistics

Sep 19, 2026

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The annual Nonemployer Statistics by Demographics (NES-D) series extends demographic estimates for nonemployer businesses in the United States following the transition of the employer component of the Survey of Business Owners (SBO). NES-D uses blended administrative and census records to assign demographic characteristics to an approximately 24 million nonemployer universe. It supports key owner demographics such as sex, race, Hispanic origin, and veteran status, plus other characteristics including age, place of birth, and citizenship status, without added respondent burden. Initial 2015 results show demographic data coverage for most nonemployers.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryGeneral

FormatPDF

Pages142

Reading Time50 min

AccessFree to download

Abstract

Background

Survey and data transition

NES-D approach and data sources

Coverage and initial results

Future work and objectives

Acknowledgements

Disclaimer

Nonemployer Statistics by Demographics (NES-D): Using Administrative and Census Records Data in Business Statistics by Adela Luque U.S. Census Bureau Renuka Bhaskar U.S. Census Bureau James Noon U.S. Census Bureau Kevin Rinz U.S. Census Bureau Victoria Udalova U.S. Census Bureau CES 19-01 January, 2019 The research program of the Center for Economic Studies (CES) produces a wide range of economic analyses to improve the statistical programs of the U.S. Census Bureau. Many of these analyses take the form of CES research papers. The papers have not undergone the review accorded Census Bureau publications and no endorsement should be inferred. Any opinions and conclusions expressed herein are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the views of the U.S. Census Bureau. All results have been reviewed to ensure that no confidential information is disclosed. Republication in whole or part must be cleared with the authors. To obtain information about the series, [see www.census.gov/ces](see www.census.gov/ces) or contact Christopher Goetz, Editor, Discussion Papers, U.S. Census Bureau, Center for Economic Studies 5K028B, 4600 Silver Hill Road, Washington, DC 20233, [CES.Working.Papers@census.gov](CES.Working.Papers@census.gov. To subscribe to the)[. To subscribe to the](CES.Working.Papers@census.gov. To subscribe to the) series, please click here. Abstract The quinquennial Survey of Business Owners or SBO provided the only comprehensive source of information in the United States on employer and nonemployer businesses by the sex, race, ethnicity and veteran status of the business owners. The annual Nonemployer Statistics series (NES) provides establishment counts and receipts for nonemployers but contains no demographic information on the business owners. With the transition of the employer component of the SBO to the Annual Business Survey, the Nonemployer Statistics by Demographics series or NES-D represents the continuation of demographics estimates for nonemployer businesses. NES-D will leverage existing administrative and census records to assign demographic characteristics to the universe of approximately 24 million nonemployer businesses (as of 2015) . Demographic characteristics include key demographics measured by the SBO (sex, race, Hispanic origin and veteran status) as well as other demographics (age, place of birth and citizenship status) collected but not imputed by the SBO if missing. A spectrum of administrative and census data sources will provide the nonemployer universe and demographics information. Specifically, the nonemployer universe originates in the Business Register; the Census Numident will provide sex, age, place of birth and citizenship status; race and Hispanic origin information will be obtained from multiple years of the decennial census and the American Community Survey; and the Department of Veteran Affairs will provide administrative records data on veteran status. The use of blended data in this manner will make possible the production of NES-D, an annual series that will become the only source of detailed and comprehensive statistics on the scope, nature and activities of U.S. businesses with no paid employment by the demographic characteristics of the business owner. Using the 2015 vintage of nonemployers, initial results indicate that demographic information is available for the overwhelming majority of the universe of nonemployers. For instance, information on sex, age, place of birth and citizenship status is available for over 95 percent of the 24 million nonemployers while race and Hispanic origin are available for about 90 percent of them. These results exclude owners of C-corporations, which represent only 2 percent of nonemployer firms. Among other things, future work will entail imputation of missing demographics information (including that of C-corporations), testing the longitudinal consistency of the estimates, and expanding the set of c

FAQs

What problem does NES-D address compared with the prior SBO and NES series?

The SBO quinquennial survey was the only comprehensive source of demographics for employers and nonemployers, while the annual NES provided counts and receipts for nonemployers but lacked owner demographics. NES-D continues demographic estimation for nonemployer businesses after the employer part of SBO moved to the Annual Business Survey.

Which data sources does NES-D use to produce demographic estimates?

NES-D leverages administrative and census records: the Business Register for the nonemployer universe, Census Numident for sex, age, place of birth, and citizenship status, decennial census and ACS for race and Hispanic origin, and the Department of Veterans Affairs for veteran status.

What do initial results from the 2015 nonemployer universe indicate?

Initial results indicate demographic information is available for the overwhelming majority of nonemployers. Sex, age, place of birth, and citizenship status are available for over 95%, while race and Hispanic origin are available for about 90%. Results exclude C-corporation owners, representing about 2% of nonemployer firms.

Sep 19, 2026

Upload by Connor