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County Business Patterns is an annual data release providing number of employees, number of establishments, and payroll by industry for the nation, states and counties. Data for employers without a fixed physical location are grouped into a "statewide category" at the end of the county reporting area. Special tabulations including data for ZIP Codes are available for a fee from the Economic Planning and Coordination Division of the U.S. Census Bureau.

The data are organized into the following economic divisions: agricultural services, forestry, and fishing; mining; construction; manufacturing; transportation and public utilities; wholesale trade; retail trade; finance, insurance, and real estate; and services. Industries are organized within these divisions by industrial classification code. The North American Industrial Classification System (NAICS) replaced the previously used Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) system, and the County Business Patterns series began presenting data using the NAICS classifications in 1998. Data for self-employed persons, domestic service workers, most government employees, and employees on ocean-borne vessels or in foreign countries are not included in the County Business Pattern data.

Employment data shown in County Business Patterns are for the week of March 12 and include full- and part-time employees. This data also include regularly paid employees who are on sick leave or vacation. Proprietors and partners of unincorporated businesses are not included in the County Business Pattern employment data.

The term "establishment" used in County Business Patterns is a single, physical location where a business, service, or industrial operation happens. Therefore, a company may be made up of one establishment or several establishments. Establishments may also perform operations that fall into different industrial classification codes. In this case, the establishment and all its associated information will be classified on the basis of its major activity. Establishment data are shown as a total and by size of employment.

Payroll data on County Business Patterns include all forms of compensation, such as salaries, wages, reported tips, commissions, bonuses, vacation allowances, sick-leave pay, employee contributions to qualified pension plans, and the value of taxable benefits. Payroll is reported before deductions for taxes, Social Security, etc. Payroll is reported as an annual total and a first quarter total covering January - March.

County Business Patterns withholds data that would disclose the operations of an individual employer.