What is it measuring?

The ACS is a public nationwide survey that annually collects information on social, economic, housing, and demographic characteristics about the U.S. population. It asks people about their primary work arrangement in the past week, or the most recent job they held in the past five years, including whether that job was private employment, public employment, self-employment in an incorporated business, or self-employment in an unincorporated business, similar to the Current Population Survey. Self-employment in an unincorporated business could be used as an estimate of gig work using a broad definition.

What does it tell us?

ACS data speak to how many workers are self-employed, the industries of these workers, and their annual earnings. Due to the large sample, estimates are available for most states and metropolitan areas and can be used for geographically specific estimates.

In 2023, there were 9.4 million people self-employed in an unincorporated business as their main job, representing 5.8 percent of workers.

How is it collected?

The ACS is conducted annually. Each year, the survey is sent to about 3.5 million addresses in the 50 states, DC, and Puerto Rico. Survey response is mandatory, and responses are collected via mail, internet, telephone, and personal visits.

Who collects it?

U.S. Census Bureau

Considerations

The ACS identifies workers based on their primary job (full-time or part-time) and does not consider other work performed for supplemental income. It also relies on respondents understanding their own work arrangement.

How to access this data?

Data are publicly available through the Census Bureau's ACS website.