Self-employment rates, annual averages, selected years, 1948-2003 Agriculture Nonagricultural industries All industries 1948 61.1 12.0 18.5 1949 1950 60.6 11.6 17.6 1951 1952 1953 1954 1955 57.8 10.5 15.4 1956 1957 1958 1959 1960 51.2 10.4 13.8 1961 1962 1963 1964 1965 52.7 9.1 11.8 1966 53.7 8.7 11.1 1967 51.9 7.3 9.6 1968 1969 1970 52.3 6.9 8.9 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 50.5 6.9 8.7 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 48.8 7.3 8.7 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 45.9 7.5 8.7 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 42.8 7.5 8.5 1991 1992 1993 1994 48.3 7.5 8.7 1995 45.9 7.3 8.4 1996 44.1 7.3 8.3 1997 42.9 7.2 8.1 1998 39.7 7.0 7.8 1999 39.5 6.8 7.6 2000 41.0 6.8 7.5 2001 43.0 6.8 7.4 2002 43.4 6.7 7.3 2003 41.8 6.9 7.5 Prior to 1967, estimates of the self-employed included persons who operated their own incorporated businesses.