Worker Co-ops by the Numbers
These statistics are compiled in the Democracy at Work Institute’s (DaWI) 2025 State of the Sector Report
DaWI estimates that there are 820 firms that employ an estimated 13,520 workers as of 2024. Since 2014 that's a 160% growth in firms and 124% growth in workers.
64% of worker-owners are women. 56% of worker-owners are people of color.
The median CEO to worker pay at conventional firms is 281:1 while the median top to bottom pay ratio at worker co-ops are 1.44:1.
Ten Fastest growing co-op businesses:
- Business Support Consulting
- Education & Childcare
- Agriculture
- Construction
- Arts & Entertainment
- Engineering & Manufacturing
- Retail
- Cafes, Breweries, and Bars
- Cleaning Services
- Grocery
States and territories with most worker co-ops
- New York
- California
- Massachusetts
- Colorado
- Puerto Rico
- Washington
- Wisconsin
- Vermont
- Pennsylvania
- North Carolina