Size of the US Social Assistance industry
NAICS 624, Social Assistance. Every figure on this page was published by a federal statistical agency and carries its source and period. Palanor does not estimate: a period the agency didn’t publish shows as missing, and a figure it withheld shows as withheld.
Key figures
- Receipts (sales, shipments or revenue)
- $279 billion
- 2022 · Economic Census
All establishments, current dollars - Revenue, not seasonally adjusted
- $89.4 billion
- 2026-Q2 · Quarterly Services Survey
Employer firms, current dollars - Employment
- 5,077,021
- 2026-Q1 · Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages
Private-sector jobs in the third month of each quarter
Over time
How it has changed
Show the numbers
| Period | Value |
|---|---|
| 2026-Q2 | $87.9 billion |
| 2026-Q1 | $86.3 billion |
| 2025-Q4 | $85.4 billion |
| 2025-Q3 | $87.4 billion |
| 2025-Q2 | $85.3 billion |
| 2025-Q1 | $83.6 billion |
| 2024-Q4 | $82.3 billion |
| 2024-Q3 | $80.6 billion |
| 2024-Q2 | $81.5 billion |
| 2024-Q1 | $79.3 billion |
| 2023-Q4 | $76.7 billion |
| 2023-Q3 | $75.9 billion |
| 2023-Q2 | $73.8 billion |
| 2023-Q1 | $73.1 billion |
| 2022-Q4 | $70.1 billion |
| 2022-Q3 | $70.3 billion |
| 2022-Q2 | $66.9 billion |
| 2022-Q1 | $66.0 billion |
| 2021-Q4 | $66.7 billion |
| 2021-Q3 | $63.7 billion |
| 2021-Q2 | $62.7 billion |
| 2021-Q1 | $59.9 billion |
| 2020-Q4 | $59.6 billion |
| 2020-Q3 | $55.7 billion |
| 2020-Q2 | $50.0 billion |
| 2020-Q1 | $54.9 billion |
| 2019-Q4 | $52.6 billion |
| 2019-Q3 | $54.1 billion |
| 2019-Q2 | $52.6 billion |
| 2019-Q1 | $52.1 billion |
| 2018-Q4 | $52.3 billion |
| 2018-Q3 | $51.0 billion |
| 2018-Q2 | $50.3 billion |
| 2018-Q1 | $48.0 billion |
| 2017-Q4 | $47.7 billion |
| 2017-Q3 | $47.6 billion |
| 2017-Q2 | $47.8 billion |
| 2017-Q1 | $47.7 billion |
| 2016-Q4 | $45.3 billion |
| 2016-Q3 | $44.9 billion |
| 2016-Q2 | $43.4 billion |
| 2016-Q1 | $42.4 billion |
| 2015-Q4 | $41.7 billion |
| 2015-Q3 | $41.4 billion |
| 2015-Q2 | $41.6 billion |
| 2015-Q1 | $41.5 billion |
| 2014-Q4 | $40.9 billion |
| 2014-Q3 | $39.9 billion |
| 2014-Q2 | $38.7 billion |
| 2014-Q1 | $38.3 billion |
| 2013-Q4 | $37.6 billion |
| 2013-Q3 | $38.0 billion |
| 2013-Q2 | $37.1 billion |
| 2013-Q1 | $37.2 billion |
| 2012-Q4 | $36.7 billion |
| 2012-Q3 | $36.1 billion |
| 2012-Q2 | $36.5 billion |
| 2012-Q1 | $37.1 billion |
| 2011-Q4 | $37.9 billion |
| 2011-Q3 | $36.1 billion |
| 2011-Q2 | $36.4 billion |
| 2011-Q1 | $35.1 billion |
| 2010-Q4 | $35.7 billion |
| 2010-Q3 | $36.2 billion |
| 2010-Q2 | $35.5 billion |
| 2010-Q1 | $36.1 billion |
| 2009-Q4 | $34.6 billion |
| 2009-Q3 | $34.8 billion |
| 2009-Q2 | $34.8 billion |
| 2009-Q1 | $33.8 billion |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Quarterly Services Survey · Employer firms, current dollars · Agency label: Social Assistance
Show the numbers
| Period | Value |
|---|---|
| 2026-Q1 | $261 billion |
| 2025-Q4 | $256 billion |
| 2025-Q3 | $254 billion |
| 2025-Q2 | $248 billion |
| 2025-Q1 | $240 billion |
| 2024-Q4 | $236 billion |
| 2024-Q3 | $230 billion |
| 2024-Q2 | $224 billion |
| 2024-Q1 | $218 billion |
| 2023-Q4 | $207 billion |
| 2023-Q3 | $202 billion |
| 2023-Q2 | $196 billion |
| 2023-Q1 | $192 billion |
| 2022-Q4 | $189 billion |
| 2022-Q3 | $181 billion |
| 2022-Q2 | $176 billion |
| 2022-Q1 | $171 billion |
| 2021-Q4 | $160 billion |
| 2021-Q3 | $156 billion |
| 2021-Q2 | $155 billion |
| 2021-Q1 | $153 billion |
| 2020-Q4 | $154 billion |
| 2020-Q3 | $157 billion |
| 2020-Q2 | $133 billion |
| 2020-Q1 | $154 billion |
| 2019-Q4 | $152 billion |
| 2019-Q3 | $149 billion |
| 2019-Q2 | $145 billion |
| 2019-Q1 | $142 billion |
| 2018-Q4 | $140 billion |
| 2018-Q3 | $137 billion |
| 2018-Q2 | $135 billion |
| 2018-Q1 | $133 billion |
| 2017-Q4 | $131 billion |
| 2017-Q3 | $129 billion |
| 2017-Q2 | $127 billion |
| 2017-Q1 | $125 billion |
| 2016-Q4 | $124 billion |
| 2016-Q3 | $123 billion |
| 2016-Q2 | $120 billion |
| 2016-Q1 | $118 billion |
| 2015-Q4 | $116 billion |
| 2015-Q3 | $114 billion |
| 2015-Q2 | $113 billion |
| 2015-Q1 | $111 billion |
| 2014-Q4 | $109 billion |
| 2014-Q3 | $108 billion |
| 2014-Q2 | $106 billion |
| 2014-Q1 | $104 billion |
| 2013-Q4 | $104 billion |
| 2013-Q3 | $103 billion |
| 2013-Q2 | $101 billion |
| 2013-Q1 | $100 billion |
| 2012-Q4 | $96.9 billion |
| 2012-Q3 | $96.1 billion |
| 2012-Q2 | $95.4 billion |
| 2012-Q1 | $95.7 billion |
| 2011-Q4 | $89.7 billion |
| 2011-Q3 | $89.0 billion |
| 2011-Q2 | $88.3 billion |
| 2011-Q1 | $87.7 billion |
| 2010-Q4 | $89.9 billion |
| 2010-Q3 | $90.3 billion |
| 2010-Q2 | $89.8 billion |
| 2010-Q1 | $88.9 billion |
| 2009-Q4 | $87.8 billion |
| 2009-Q3 | $87.7 billion |
| 2009-Q2 | $87.8 billion |
| 2009-Q1 | $87.6 billion |
| 2008-Q4 | $87.3 billion |
| 2008-Q3 | $86.2 billion |
| 2008-Q2 | $85.1 billion |
| 2008-Q1 | $84.0 billion |
| 2007-Q4 | $82.7 billion |
| 2007-Q3 | $81.4 billion |
| 2007-Q2 | $80.1 billion |
| 2007-Q1 | $79.1 billion |
| 2006-Q4 | $78.5 billion |
| 2006-Q3 | $77.3 billion |
| 2006-Q2 | $76.6 billion |
| 2006-Q1 | $75.2 billion |
| 2005-Q4 | $74.1 billion |
| 2005-Q3 | $73.0 billion |
| 2005-Q2 | $71.7 billion |
| 2005-Q1 | $70.9 billion |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, GDP by Industry · Current dollars · Agency label: Social assistance
Show the numbers
| Period | Value | NAICS |
|---|---|---|
| 2026-Q1 | 5,077,021 | 2022 |
| 2025-Q4 | 5,076,844 | 2022 |
| 2025-Q3 | 5,003,704 | 2022 |
| 2025-Q2 | 5,003,016 | 2022 |
| 2025-Q1 | 4,849,657 | 2022 |
| 2024-Q4 | 4,775,580 | 2022 |
| 2024-Q3 | 4,689,037 | 2022 |
| 2024-Q2 | 4,664,416 | 2022 |
| 2024-Q1 | 4,617,566 | 2022 |
| 2023-Q4 | 4,518,371 | 2022 |
| 2023-Q3 | 4,441,477 | 2022 |
| 2023-Q2 | 4,416,941 | 2022 |
| 2023-Q1 | 4,322,997 | 2022 |
| 2022-Q4 | 4,274,194 | 2022 |
| 2022-Q3 | 4,204,058 | 2022 |
| 2022-Q2 | 4,162,435 | 2022 |
| 2022-Q1 | 4,111,159 | 2022 |
| 2021-Q4 | 4,049,577 | 2017 |
| 2021-Q3 | 3,948,094 | 2017 |
| 2021-Q2 | 3,956,174 | 2017 |
| 2021-Q1 | 3,909,915 | 2017 |
| 2020-Q4 | 3,887,417 | 2017 |
| 2020-Q3 | 3,792,096 | 2017 |
| 2020-Q2 | 3,680,799 | 2017 |
| 2020-Q1 | 4,145,898 | 2017 |
| 2019-Q4 | 4,072,578 | 2017 |
| 2019-Q3 | 4,016,369 | 2017 |
| 2019-Q2 | 4,006,278 | 2017 |
| 2019-Q1 | 3,975,013 | 2017 |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages · Private-sector jobs in the third month of each quarter
Show the numbers
| Period | Value |
|---|---|
| 2023 | 3,742,670 |
| 2022 | 3,421,442 |
| 2021 | 3,209,764 |
| 2020 | 3,493,714 |
| 2019 | 3,427,575 |
| 2018 | 3,347,958 |
| 2017 | 3,318,910 |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, County Business Patterns · Paid employees in the pay period including March 12
Show the numbers
| Period | Value | NAICS |
|---|---|---|
| 2026-Q1 | 1,285,054 | 2022 |
| 2025-Q4 | 1,260,051 | 2022 |
| 2025-Q3 | 1,220,988 | 2022 |
| 2025-Q2 | 1,185,556 | 2022 |
| 2025-Q1 | 1,165,362 | 2022 |
| 2024-Q4 | 1,235,327 | 2022 |
| 2024-Q3 | 1,196,395 | 2022 |
| 2024-Q2 | 1,164,596 | 2022 |
| 2024-Q1 | 1,132,016 | 2022 |
| 2023-Q4 | 1,105,562 | 2022 |
| 2023-Q3 | 1,073,356 | 2022 |
| 2023-Q2 | 1,060,669 | 2022 |
| 2023-Q1 | 1,092,276 | 2022 |
| 2022-Q4 | 1,089,002 | 2022 |
| 2022-Q3 | 1,066,774 | 2022 |
| 2022-Q2 | 1,068,534 | 2022 |
| 2022-Q1 | 1,050,151 | 2022 |
| 2021-Q4 | 1,069,591 | 2017 |
| 2021-Q3 | 1,050,221 | 2017 |
| 2021-Q2 | 1,037,564 | 2017 |
| 2021-Q1 | 1,030,484 | 2017 |
| 2020-Q4 | 1,065,134 | 2017 |
| 2020-Q3 | 1,015,470 | 2017 |
| 2020-Q2 | 1,005,249 | 2017 |
| 2020-Q1 | 1,002,578 | 2017 |
| 2019-Q4 | 942,436 | 2017 |
| 2019-Q3 | 936,129 | 2017 |
| 2019-Q2 | 927,140 | 2017 |
| 2019-Q1 | 921,103 | 2017 |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages · Private ownership
Show the numbers
| Period | Value |
|---|---|
| 2023 | 199,242 |
| 2022 | 195,280 |
| 2021 | 188,706 |
| 2020 | 184,970 |
| 2019 | 182,137 |
| 2018 | 180,343 |
| 2017 | 175,344 |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, County Business Patterns
Show the numbers
| Period | Value | NAICS |
|---|---|---|
| 2026-Q1 | $44.3 billion | 2022 |
| 2025-Q4 | $45.9 billion | 2022 |
| 2025-Q3 | $44.0 billion | 2022 |
| 2025-Q2 | $43.4 billion | 2022 |
| 2025-Q1 | $41.4 billion | 2022 |
| 2024-Q4 | $42.0 billion | 2022 |
| 2024-Q3 | $40.3 billion | 2022 |
| 2024-Q2 | $39.7 billion | 2022 |
| 2024-Q1 | $38.4 billion | 2022 |
| 2023-Q4 | $38.4 billion | 2022 |
| 2023-Q3 | $36.6 billion | 2022 |
| 2023-Q2 | $35.9 billion | 2022 |
| 2023-Q1 | $34.7 billion | 2022 |
| 2022-Q4 | $34.8 billion | 2022 |
| 2022-Q3 | $34.4 billion | 2022 |
| 2022-Q2 | $32.3 billion | 2022 |
| 2022-Q1 | $29.4 billion | 2022 |
| 2021-Q4 | $31.7 billion | 2017 |
| 2021-Q3 | $28.7 billion | 2017 |
| 2021-Q2 | $28.3 billion | 2017 |
| 2021-Q1 | $26.2 billion | 2017 |
| 2020-Q4 | $28.7 billion | 2017 |
| 2020-Q3 | $25.8 billion | 2017 |
| 2020-Q2 | $24.9 billion | 2017 |
| 2020-Q1 | $26.4 billion | 2017 |
| 2019-Q4 | $26.5 billion | 2017 |
| 2019-Q3 | $25.3 billion | 2017 |
| 2019-Q2 | $25.1 billion | 2017 |
| 2019-Q1 | $24.3 billion | 2017 |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages · Private ownership
Show the numbers
| Period | Value |
|---|---|
| 2023 | $125 billion |
| 2022 | $109 billion |
| 2021 | $94.7 billion |
| 2020 | $87.8 billion |
| 2019 | $86.5 billion |
| 2018 | $81.0 billion |
| 2017 | $77.9 billion |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, County Business Patterns
The ledger
Every published measure
| Measure | Source | Latest | Period | History |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Value added (GDP by industry)Current dollars | GDP by Industry | $249 billion | 2025 | 1997–2025 · 29 published |
| Value added, seasonally adjusted annual rateCurrent dollars | GDP by Industry | $261 billion | 2026-Q1 | 2005-Q1–2026-Q1 · 85 published |
| EmploymentPrivate-sector jobs in the third month of each quarter | Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages | 5,077,021 | 2026-Q1 | 2019-Q1–2026-Q1 · 29 published |
| EstablishmentsPrivate ownership | Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages | 1,285,054 | 2026-Q1 | 2019-Q1–2026-Q1 · 29 published |
| Total wages in the quarterPrivate ownership | Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages | $44.3 billion | 2026-Q1 | 2019-Q1–2026-Q1 · 29 published |
| Annual payroll | County Business Patterns | $125 billion | 2023 | 2017–2023 · 7 published |
| EmploymentPaid employees in the pay period including March 12 | County Business Patterns | 3,742,670 | 2023 | 2017–2023 · 7 published |
| Establishments | County Business Patterns | 199,242 | 2023 | 2017–2023 · 7 published |
| Annual payroll | Economic Census | $113 billion | 2022 | 2017–2022 · 2 published |
| EmploymentPaid employees in the pay period including March 12 | Economic Census | 3,688,713 | 2022 | 2017–2022 · 2 published |
| Establishments | Economic Census | 193,053 | 2022 | 2017–2022 · 2 published |
| Firms | Economic Census | 144,894 | 2022 | 2017–2022 · 2 published |
| Receipts (sales, shipments or revenue)All establishments, current dollars | Economic Census | $279 billion | 2022 | 2017–2022 · 2 published |
| Revenue, not seasonally adjustedEmployer firms, current dollars | Quarterly Services Survey | $89.4 billion | 2026-Q2 | 2009-Q1–2026-Q2 · 70 published |
| Revenue, seasonally adjustedEmployer firms, current dollars | Quarterly Services Survey | $87.9 billion | 2026-Q2 | 2009-Q1–2026-Q2 · 70 published |
Breakdown
Industries within Social Assistance
| NAICS | Industry | Size | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6241 | Individual and Family Services | $153 billionReceipts · 2022 · Economic Census | 3,581,7612026-Q1 · QCEW |
| 6242 | Community Food and Housing, and Emergency and Other Relief Services | $53.2 billionReceipts · 2022 · Economic Census | 230,0092026-Q1 · QCEW |
| 6243 | Vocational Rehabilitation Services | $14.3 billionReceipts · 2022 · Economic Census | 276,7502026-Q1 · QCEW |
| 6244 | Child Care Services | $58.4 billionReceipts · 2022 · Economic Census | 988,5012026-Q1 · QCEW |
Sources
Where every number comes from
- GDP by Industry, U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis. Quarterly and annual. Public domain (U.S. Government work). Terms.
- Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Quarterly. Public domain (U.S. Government work). Terms.
- County Business Patterns, U.S. Census Bureau. Annual. Public domain (U.S. Government work). Terms.
- Economic Census, U.S. Census Bureau. Every five years (2017, 2022). Public domain (U.S. Government work). Terms.
- Quarterly Services Survey, U.S. Census Bureau. Quarterly. Public domain (U.S. Government work). Terms.
Figures are in current dollars and are the agencies’ own, revised when they revise. Each program defines its universe differently (employer firms, private ownership, all establishments), so figures from different sources are not meant to add up. This page is not endorsed by the Census Bureau, BEA or BLS. The same data is in the Palanor API (/v1/industries) and the MCP (palanor_get_industry). All industries.