This is the sixth annual State of Latino Entrepreneurship report where we have collected robust survey data from Latino-owned businesses across the country to provide a timely account on the fastest-growing segment of the U.S. business population. This year, we administered our national survey amid a global pandemic and vast social unrest, and the unique disruptions businesses faced over the past year are clearly visible in the survey responses.
This report highlights the impact of Latino-owned employer businesses in the U.S. economy and compares their experiences to those of White-owned employer firms in the United States. This year, we not only surveyed U.S. Latino business owners but also a comparison group of White business owners to identify similarities and differences in their experiences. We collected a sample of 3,500 White-owned businesses and 3,500+ Latino-owned businesses. Additionally, we captured time-series data from a smaller cohort of Latino-owned firms over the months of March, June, and September 2020, to capture the progressive impact of the pandemic on Latino-owned businesses.
Our current research focuses on employer firms, those with at least one paid employee other than the owner, as these businesses are poised to have the greatest impact on the economy and job creation. This focus on employer firms aligns with the approach taken by the U.S. Census Bureau in their Annual Business Survey, which we rely on for statistical purposes to make our sample as nationally representative as possible.
The 2020 State of Latino Entrepreneurship report provides organizations focused on supporting businesses (e.g., chambers of commerce, trade associations, economic development associations, etc.), think tanks, policymakers, and corporations with insights into the business outcomes of Latino-owned businesses to inform data-driven policy and programs. Additionally, we hope Latino business owners leverage these data to inform their business decision-making and operations. We acknowledge that business owners are operating in largely uncertain and unprecedented times, and we would like to thank those who contributed their data to ensure that the stakeholders listed above can work together to reshape and rebuild the U.S. economy.