In the early 2000s, about 60% of all new business applications were from businesses planning on having employees. The other 40% were from solopreneurs who did not plan to hire employees.
But as the chart below shows (click to enlarge), by 2015, 57% of new applications were from solopreneurs (orange in the chart). And in 2020, 66% of new business applications were from solopreneurs.
The data comes from the U.S. Census Business Formation statistics, which tracks applications for Employer Identification Numbers (EIN). Because EINs are needed for tax reporting, almost all employer businesses and most solopreneurs have them.
This data nicely illustrates the long-term shift towards independent workers and the growth of the independent workforce.
