Viewing businesses, or employers, by size gives insight into the composition of a community's economic profile. An area dominated by large employers may have different priorities, strengths and challenges from an area with more small or medium employers, for example.

In 2023, just under half (47%) of businesses in Lancaster County employed 1-4 people, 21% employed 5-9 people, 14% employed 10-19 people, and the remaining 18% employed 20 people or more. Only 3% of employers, a little under 400 businesses, had 100 or more employees. This is similar to the employer distribution throughout the state and nation, although Lancaster County seems to feature somewhat fewer very small (1-4 persons) employers than either.

This percentage distribution by size is similar for surrounding counties, although Chester has somewhat more (55%) of the smallest (1-4 person) businesses and proportionally fewer (17%) 5-9 person businesses and (9%) 20-49 person businesses.

Data is from the U.S. Census Bureau's County Business Patterns. Not included are self-employed individuals, employees of private households, railroad employees, agricultural production employees and most government employees.