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Blue Collar Entrepreneurs: Demographics
Blue-collar entrepreneurs in the United States have a demographic profile which includes that 31.55% are in the 55-64 years-old age range, 27.79% are female, and their average monthly income is about $11,233. After an extensive search and multiple triangulations, the research team did not find any specific religious or marital status demographics for this population. Below is an outline of the research strategies used to better understand why the exact information requested is publicly unavailable, as well as a deep dive into the findings.
Blue Collar Entrepreneurs: Demographics
- According to Business Forward, a premier source for independent business information, advice and news, 8 out of the top 10 highest earning industries for entrepreneurs are from the blue-collar sector, which includes home building/improvement/maintenance (construction, roofing, flooring, painting, heating and air conditioning, etc), auto-repair, landscaping, catering, event planning, and cleaning.
Age
- According to the Annual Survey of Entrepreneurs by the US Census Bureau, 0.4% of US business owners in the home improvement industry (under 23 — Construction 2-digit NAICS Code), such as construction, roofing, flooring, flooring, painting, heating and air conditioning, among others, or about 2,875 blue-collar entrepreneurs, were under 25 years old in 2016; 5.4%, or about 34,718 entrepreneurs, were aged 25-34 years; 17.2% or about 110,240 entrepreneurs, were aged 35-44 years; 29.5%, or about 188,815 entrepreneurs, were aged 45-54 years; 32.7% or about 208,927 entrepreneurs, were aged 55-64 years; and 14.7% or 94,166 entrepreneurs, were aged 65 years or over. The total number in the construction industry in 2016 were 639,740 blue-collar entrepreneurs.
- According to the Annual Survey of Entrepreneurs by the US Census Bureau, for the landscaping services industry (under the 56 — Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services 2-digit NAICS Code), 0.7% of US business owners in the landscaping services industry, or about 2,028 blue-collar entrepreneurs, were under 25 years old in 2016; 6.2%, or about 18,892 entrepreneurs, were aged 25-34 years; 16.9%, or about 51,658 entrepreneurs, were aged 35-44 years; 29.2%, or about 89,170 entrepreneurs, were aged 45-54 years; 30.0%, or about 91,462 entrepreneurs, were aged 55-64 years; and 17.0%, or 51,688 entrepreneurs, were aged 65 years or over. The total number in the landscaping services industry in 2016 were 304,897 blue-collar entrepreneurs.
- According to the Annual Survey of Entrepreneurs by the US Census Bureau, for the automotive repair industry (under the 81 — Other services (except public administration) 2-digit NAICS Code), 0.5% of US business owners in the landscaping services industry, or about 1,887 blue-collar entrepreneurs, were under 25 years old in 2016; 6.1%, or about 21,664 entrepreneurs, were aged 25-34 years; 17.0%, or about 60,055 entrepreneurs, were aged 35-44 years; 29.6%, or about 104,378 entrepreneurs, were aged 45-54 years; 30.9%, or about 108,818 entrepreneurs, were aged 55-64 years; and 15.8%, or 55,574 entrepreneurs, were aged 65 years or over. The total number in the automotive repair industry in 2016 were 352,378 blue-collar entrepreneurs.
- The overall average age demographics of blue-collar entrepreneurs in the US is 0.52% under 25 years old, 5.8% aged 25-34 years, 17.11% aged 35-44 years, 29.48% aged 45-54 years old, 31.55% aged 55-64 years, and 15.53% aged 65 years or over. (see calculations for industry proxy)
Gender
- According to the Annual Survey of Entrepreneurs by the US Census Bureau, there were about 133,643 female (20.89%) and 506,096 male (79.11%) blue-collar entrepreneurs in the US home improvement industry (under 23 — Construction 2-digit NAICS Code) in 2016.
- According to the Annual Survey of Entrepreneurs by the US Census Bureau, there were about 95,959 female (31.47%) and 208,938 male (68.53%) blue-collar entrepreneurs in the US landscaping services industry (under the 56 — Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services 2-digit NAICS Code) in 2016.
- According to the Annual Survey of Entrepreneurs by the US Census Bureau, there were about 130,864 female (37.14%) and 221,514 male (62.86%) blue-collar entrepreneurs in the US automotive repair industry (under the 81 — Other services, except public administration, 2-digit NAICS Code) in 2016.
- The overall gender demographics of the blue-collar sector entrepreneurs in the US consists of 27.79% female and 72.21% male blue-collar entrepreneurs. (see calculations for industry proxy)
Income
- According to the Invoice2Go report, the top 8 out of 10 highest-earning industries for small business owners in the US, according to average monthly amount invoiced, belong the blue-collar sector, which includes construction ($18,788), roofing ($16,942), flooring ($10,602), painting ($9,486), heating & air conditioning ($8,971), carpentry ($8,950), plumbing ($8,639) and electrical ($7,490).
- The average monthly income of blue-collar entrepreneurs in the US is estimated to be $11,233.50/month, while their estimated annual income is worth $134,802. (see calculations for industry proxy)
General Marital Status Finding:
- According to the Demographic Characteristics of Business Owners and Employees report by the US Small Business Administration, 66.3% of business entrepreneurs, in general, are married while 33.7% are not married.
Research Strategy:
First, we researched for precompiled reports about the demographics of blue-collar entrepreneurs by using well-known industry bodies and trade organizations such as the National Entrepreneurs Association, Entrepreneur's Organization, National Association of Manufacturers, American Welding Society, and Construction Business Owner, among others, as the most credible sources. However, we only found news and resources about the specific industries, but no reports or articles were found about the demographics of blue-collar entrepreneurs in the US, specifically the business owner's age, gender, income, religion, and marital status. We then searched for any data and statistics that could be used to triangulate the demographics of blue-collar entrepreneurs in the US, by using government sources such as the Bureau of Labor Statistics and US Census Bureau, among others, and trade entrepreneur-targeted resources such as Business Forward, Ewing Marion Kaufman Foundation, the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM), and Independent Women's Forum. Next, we used the data of the highest-earning industries for blue-collar entrepreneurs to get the age and gender demographics of blue-collar entrepreneurs via triangulation by proxy using the data and statistics from the Annual Survey of Entrepreneurs. In order to find the specific data and statistics for the mentioned highest-earning industries above, we needed to use the US Census Bureau Industry Statistics Portal to find the 2-digit NAICS code of which the industries of construction, roofing, flooring, painting, heating & air conditioning, carpentry, plumbing, electrical, automotive repair and landscaping are included. We then applied our understanding to all respective NAICS codes for the blue collar sector.
CALCULATIONS FOR INDUSTRY PROXY
(1) Age:
*Home Improvement Industry: Under 25 years old, 2,875 entrepreneurs; 25-34 years old, 34,718 entrepreneurs; 35-44 years old, 110,240 entrepreneurs; 45-54 years old, 188,815 entrepreneurs; 55-64 years old, 208,927 entrepreneurs; 65 years old or over, 94,166 entrepreneurs.
*Landscaping Services Industry: Under 25 years old, 2,028 entrepreneurs; 25-34 years old, 18,892 entrepreneurs; 35-44 years old, 51,658 entrepreneurs; 45-54 years old, 89,170 entrepreneurs; 55-64 years old, 91,462 entrepreneurs; 65 years old or over, 51,688 entrepreneurs.
*Automotive Repair Industry: Under 25 years old, 1,887 entrepreneurs; 25-34 years old, 21,664 entrepreneurs; 35-44 years old, 60,055 entrepreneurs; 45-54 years old, 104,378 entrepreneurs; 55-64 years old, 108,818 entrepreneurs; 65 years old or over, 55,574 entrepreneurs.
=Average of blue-collar entrepreneurs that are under 25 years old = (Home Improvement Industry entrepreneurs under 25 years old + Landscaping Services Industry entrepreneurs under 25 years old + Automotive Repair Industry entrepreneurs under 25 years old) / 3 = (2,875 + 2,028 + 1,887) / 3 = 2,263 blue collar entrepreneurs
=Average of 25-34 yrs. old = (Home Improvement Industry entrepreneurs 25-34 years old + Landscaping Services Industry entrepreneurs 25-34 years old + Automotive Repair Industry entrepreneurs 25-34 years old) / 3 = (34,718 + 18,892 + 21,664) / 3 = 25,091 blue collar entrepreneurs
=Average of 35-44 yrs. old = (Home Improvement Industry entrepreneurs 35-44 years old + Landscaping Services Industry entrepreneurs 35-44 years old + Automotive Repair Industry entrepreneurs 35-44 years old) / 3 = (110,240 + 51,658 + 60,055) / 3 = 73,984 blue collar entrepreneurs
=Average of 45-54 yrs. old = (Home Improvement Industry entrepreneurs 45-54 years old + Landscaping Services Industry entrepreneurs 45-54 years old + Automotive Repair Industry entrepreneurs 45-54 years old) / 3 = (188,815 + 89,170 + 104,378) / 3 = 127,454 blue collar entrepreneurs
=Average of 55-64 yrs. old = (Home Improvement Industry entrepreneurs 55-64 years old + Landscaping Services Industry entrepreneurs 55-64 years old + Automotive Repair Industry entrepreneurs 55-64 years old) / 3 = (208,927 + 91,462 + 108,818) / 3 = 136,402 blue collar entrepreneurs
=Average of 65 yrs. old or over = (Home Improvement Industry entrepreneurs 65 yrs. old or over + Landscaping Services Industry entrepreneurs 65 yrs. old or over + Automotive Repair Industry entrepreneurs 65 yrs. old or over) / 3 = (94,166 + 51,688 + 55,574) / 3 = 67,143 blue collar entrepreneurs
=Proxy for overall average of blue collar sector entrepreneurs, based on the 3 industries = (2,263 + 25,091 + 73,984 + 127,454 + 136,402 + 67,143) = 432,337 overall average of blue collar sector entrepreneurs in the US
*Under 25 yrs. old = (2,263 / 432,337) x 100 = 0.52%
25-34 yrs. old = (25,091 / 432,337) x 100 = 5.8%
35-44 yrs. old = (73,984 / 432,337) x 100 = 17.11%
45-54 yrs. old = (127,454 / 432,337) x 100 = 29.48%
55-64 yrs. old = (136,402 / 432,337) x 100 = 31.55%
65 yrs. old and over = (67,143 / 432,337) x 100 = 15.53%
*Therefore, the overall average age demographics of blue-collar entrepreneurs in the US are 0.52% under 25 years old, 5.8% aged 25-34 years, 17.11% aged 35.44 years, 29.48% aged 45-54 years, 31.55% aged 55-64 years, and 15.53% aged 65 years or over. (calculations)
(2) Gender
*Home Improvement Industry: 133,643 female and 506,096 male blue-collar entrepreneurs; Total entrepreneurs = 639,740
*Landscaping Services: 95,959 female and 208,938 male blue-collar entrepreneurs; Total entrepreneurs = 304,897
*Automotive Repair: 130,864 female and 221,514 male blue-collar entrepreneurs; Total entrepreneurs = 352,378
=Percentage of female entrepreneurs in Home Improvement = (133,643 / 639,740) x 100 = 20.89%
=Percentage of male entrepreneurs in Home Improvement = (506,096 / 639,740) x 100 = 79.11%
=Percentage of female entrepreneurs in Landscaping Services = (95,959 / 304,897) x 100 = 31.47%
=Percentage of male entrepreneurs in Landscaping Services = (208,938 / 304,897) x 100 = 68.53%
=Percentage of female entrepreneurs in Automotive Repair = (130,864 / 352,378) x 100 = 37.14%
=Percentage of male entrepreneurs in Automotive Repair = (221,514 / 352,378) x 100 = 62.86%
=Average female blue-collar entrepreneurs from the 3 industries = (133,643 + 95,959 + 130,864) / 3 = 120,155
=Average male blue-collar entrepreneurs from the 3 industries = (506,096 + 208,938 + 221,514) / 3 = 312,183
*Total of the average = 120,155 + 312,183 = 432,338
=Percentage of female blue collar entrepreneurs from the 3 industries = (120,155 / 432,338) x 100 = 27.79%
=Percentage of male blue collar entrepreneurs from the 3 industries = (312,183 / 432,338) x 100 = 72.21%
*Therefore, the overall gender demographics of the blue-collar entrepreneurs in the US consists of 27.79% female and 72.21% male blue-collar entrepreneurs. (calculations)
(3) Income
*The research team then used the information from the Invoice2Go report about the average monthly income of the top-earning industries for blue-collar entrepreneurs, via triangulation by proxy, to find the average monthly and annual income of blue-collar entrepreneurs in the US, as industry proxy.
=Average monthly income = (Sum of average monthly income of construction, roofing, flooring, painting, heating & air conditioning, carpentry, plumbing and electrical) / 8 = ($18,788 + $16,942 + $10,602 + $9,486 + $8,971 + $8,950 + $8,639 + $7,490) / 8 = $11,233.50
=Average annual income = Average Monthly Income x 12 months = $11,233.50 x 12 = $134,802
*Therefore, the average monthly income and annual income of blue-collar entrepreneurs in the US are $11,233.50 monthly, and $134,802 annually, respectively. (calculations)