County Business Patterns

County Business Patterns (CBP), released annually by the U.S. Census Bureau, serves as a comprehensive statistical atlas of American businesses. By providing granular data on employment and payroll figures at the county and zip code levels, and categorizing this information by industry sector, CBP offers a deep dive into the economic landscape of communities across the United States.

One of the strengths of CBP lies in its reliance on administrative records, ensuring a high degree of accuracy and completeness. This approach minimizes the reliance on survey data, which can be subject to sampling errors and non-response bias. As a result, CBP data provides a reliable picture of business activity across various regions.

The core data points covered in CBP include the number of establishments, total employment figures, and annual payroll within each industry sector. This allows for a nuanced understanding of which industries are driving employment and economic growth within specific counties or zip codes. Moreover, CBP provides insights into the distribution of establishments by employment size class, revealing the prevalence of small, medium, and large businesses in different areas.

For businesses and entrepreneurs, CBP serves as a valuable tool for market research and strategic planning. It allows them to identify areas with high growth potential, assess the competitive landscape, and tailor their business strategies accordingly. Economic development agencies and policymakers leverage CBP data to track economic trends, formulate targeted development initiatives, and attract new businesses to their regions.Researchers and analysts utilize CBP data to study the dynamics of local economies, identify emerging industries, and assess the impact of policy changes on business activity.