The U.S. Census Bureau has released the main data set from the 2023 Annual Integrated Economic Survey (AIES), marking the first time that a single, comprehensive annual overview of U.S. employer businesses is available.
The new survey provides detailed economic data, including figures on business revenue, expenses, payroll, and employment across national, regional, and divisional levels. For certain sectors, state-level estimates are also included. Previously, much of this information was only reported at the national level.
“This release of data represents a significant step forward in the Census Bureau’s efforts to adapt to our ever-changing economy and transform our business statistics,” said Lisa Donaldson, assistant director for Economic Programs. “By combining breadth of coverage with new geographic detail, the AIES provides insights that will shape decisions across the public and private sectors.”
This main release includes final estimates that replace preliminary “First Look” data published in July 2025. It features sample statistics from each of the four census regions but notes that any ordering of selected industries by their numerical estimates is coincidental and has not been tested for statistical significance.
Key highlights from the release include:
– Automobile Dealers generated an estimated $278.2 billion in revenue and employed about 281,789 workers.
– Drugs and Druggists’ Sundries Merchant Wholesalers earned an estimated $298.6 billion in sales.
– Pharmaceutical and Medicine Manufacturing employed roughly 78,565 workers with an annual payroll near $8.8 billion.
– Hospitals earned around $300.6 billion in revenue and had about 1,337,057 employees.
– Grocery Stores brought in an estimated $337.5 billion in revenue with an annual payroll of $32.1 billion.
– Electric Power Generation, Transmission and Distribution employed approximately 202,720 workers with a payroll totaling $24.4 billion.
– Telecommunications reported revenues of about $155.9 billion with a payroll of $19.6 billion.
– Data Processing, Hosting, and Related Services employed some 258,344 workers with an annual payroll reaching $30.4 billion.
The AIES covers domestic private sector nonfarm employer businesses that operated during part or all of 2023 within one of the fifty states or Washington D.C., had paid employees, and fell under one of nineteen sectors defined by the 2017 North American Industry Classification System (NAICS).
Approximately 385,000 businesses were sampled based on geography and industry sector for this survey. The estimates are not adjusted for inflation and may be affected by sampling variability or other errors.
For additional details regarding coverage areas or methodology—including information on confidentiality protections—visit the Census Bureau’s dedicated 2023 AIES Methodology page.
The Census Bureau reviewed all products related to this release to ensure appropriate protection against disclosure of confidential source data.
