Covering two years of business progress, the Worker Cooperative State of the Sector is a report on worker-owned and democratic workplaces in the United States. This report is a co-production of Democracy at Work Institute and the U.S. Federation of Worker Cooperatives. The report draws upon the latest developments in the field captured in the Worker Cooperative Enterprise Census and is an essential tool to understanding the sector.

Thumbnail of the cover of the 2023 State of the Sector report featuring a photo of diverse group of people posing and smiling joyfully and the logos of the U.S. Federation of Worker Cooperatives and Democracy At Work Institute.

Download the 2023 Worker Cooperative State of the Sector Report

The Worker Cooperative Enterprise Census, on which the State of the Sector Report is based, is a survey of worker cooperatives and democratic workplaces in the United States. It is the worker co-op field's opportunity to show the growth, success, and experience within the sector of cooperative small businesses and democratic workplaces.

Thanks to previous editions of the report, we know that worker cooperatives in the U.S. have:

  • An average 1.45:1 top-to-bottom pay ratio, in contrast to the massive 344:1 pay ratio at the typical U.S. corporation;
  • An average wage of $19.67 per hour, more than two times the federal minimum wage;
  • A majority of worker-owners are women and just less than half are people of color;
  • Retained workers in economic downturns, including the COVID-19 pandemic.

Your participation in the Enterprise Census helps us generate the insights the field needs to showcase shared ownership as a source of high-quality jobs, allowing us to advocate for increased access to capital and win cooperative-friendly policies.

In 2025, the Worker Co-op Census will open in late May and close at the end of June. The State of the Sector Report will be released in November.