The EPOP Survey Project recently released a second year of data, collected in 2023, on entrepreneurship in the U.S. Now two years of EPOP public use data are available for understanding business ownership, freelancing, gig work, and related employment activities. Besides comparing 2022 and 2023 results, NORC’s latest research brief “Entrepreneurial Background and the Path to Business Ownership: Evidence from EPOP:2023” examines serial entrepreneurship—owning multiple businesses either previously or simultaneously. This research presents intriguing findings on pathways to entrepreneurial success, particularly among those with prior business ownership experience.
A new NORC research brief “A Profile on U.S. Business Owners: Examining Trends by Gender and Racial Identities” highlights the rising diversity in this population. Based on EPOP:2022 Survey data, this report shows greater levels of diversity among business owners who opened their businesses in recent years. Non-Hispanic Black women and Hispanic individuals (men and women) are becoming business owners at significantly higher rates than in the past (since 2020). Furthermore, EPOP data indicates that the number of non-Hispanic Black female business owners will continue to grow.
View the report on gender and racial trends among business owners
Prosperity Now has been a persistent voice championing economic opportunity to build power for all communities and advance racial and ethnic economic justice. Leveraging EPOP Survey data, Prosperity Now analyzed the unique experiences of entrepreneurs of color. Their October 2023 report “From Start to Exit: Insights and Implications from Former Entrepreneurs of Color” focuses on former business owners of color and the challenges they face. Their November 2023 report “Employee Benefits Offered by Entrepreneurs of Color” investigates the degree to which diverse business owners offer health insurance and other benefits to their employees.
Based on the national EPOP Survey, the Entrepreneurship in the Population: Indiana (EPOP-IN) project focuses on experiences with and interest in entrepreneurship in Indiana. The Central Indiana Corporate Partnership (CICP) conducted EPOP-IN to learn about self-employment and business formation issues specific to residents in their state. The study collected data from August to November 2022. Click here for EPOP-IN information, data, and reports about the study.
If you are interested in learning more about conducting an EPOP study at the state, regional, or local level, please contact us at EPOPresearch@norc.org.
The EPOP survey is a cross-sectional annual survey – nationally representative of adults residing in the U.S. – which measures the interest in, involvement with, and experiences with entrepreneurship across the population. Public Use data files and Restricted Use data files are available.
June 26-30, 2024: Triad FMCS National Labor-Management Conference with LERA and ILERA
June 2024: Patterns of Entrepreneur Role Exit in Business Venturing Journal
February 2024: Association for Enterprise Opportunity (AEO) Studies Black Business Ownership
January 5, 2024: 2024 Labor and Employment Relations Association (LERA) Conference
November 30, 2023: Entrepreneurial Background and the Path to Business Ownership: Evidence from EPOP:2023
EPOP is a five-year, cross-sectional, nationally representative survey which measures entrepreneurship status and activity in the US. From 2022 to 2026, NORC will collect 31,000 completed surveys per year. The results will support estimation by key demographic subgroups and by each of the 50 states, Washington, D.C., and the 50 most populous metropolitan areas.