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Professional Employer Organizations in the US - Market Research Report (2014-2029)

Dmitry Diment Dmitry Diment New York, United States Last Updated: October 2024 NAICS 56133

Revenue

$242.1bn

2024

$242.1bn

Past 5-Year Growth

Profit

$XX.Xbn

Employees

4m

Businesses

6,210

Wages

$XXX.Xbn

Professional Employer Organizations in the US industry analysis

Professional employer organizations (PEOs) have fared with volatility in recent years. The COVID-19 severely disrupted the labor market, causing the national unemployment rate to more than double in 2020. This dragged down revenue for PEOs, but the economy's strong recovery led to a heightened need for the industry's services. Despite these conditions, high interest rates have reduced demand from the construction sector and constrained corporate profit, slowing growth. Overall, revenue for PEOs is forecast to decline at a CAGR of 0.9% to $242.1 over the five years in 2024. In 2024, industry revenue is expected to decline 9.7%.

Trends and Insights

  • Revenue volatility has been high because of the pandemic. COVID-19 more than doubled the national unemployment rate, but PEOs maintained service demand because of the complexity of pandemic-era regulations and strong government support.
  • Comprehensive PEO services represent the industry's largest revenue stream. External competition for individual services is much higher, so PEOs usually secure lucrative contracts that make them essential to a business's success.
  • With its low regulatory bar and the largest portion of the US population, the Southeast attracts many downstream companies. Florida's favorable tax climate and diverse industries, including tourism, healthcare and technology, attract many PEOs to the state.
  • External competitors provide alternatives to PEO services. Internal HR departments, specialized HR service providers and insurance brokers often deliver targeted solutions that meet many of the same needs PEOs address.

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  • Critical performance data and rankings
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Industry Statistics and Trends

Market size and recent performance (2014-2029)

Industry revenue has declined at a CAGR of 0.9 % over the past five years, to reach an estimated $242.1bn in 2024.

Trends and Insights

Changes in the labor market have produced volatility

  • Improvements in the labor market like lower unemployment, higher labor force participation rates (LFPR) and strong population growth raise need for professional employer organizations (PEOs). These factors drive businesses to seek PEO services for efficient HR management and compliance.
  • Additional trends and insights available with purchase
Professional Employer Organizations in the US
Revenue (2014-2029)
IBISWorld Logo Source: IBISWorld

Industry outlook (2024-2029)

Market size is projected to grow over the next five years.

Trends and Insights

Economic growth will buoy demand from businesses

  • Despite continued concerns about inflation, the US economy will grow at a modest pace as the Federal Reserve is expected to reduce interest rates in the coming years.

Biggest companies in the Professional Employer Organizations in the US

Company
Market Share (%)
2024
Revenue ($m)
2024
Profit ($m)
2024
Profit Margin (%)
2024
Insperity, Inc.
6,587.0
129.4
2.0
Automatic Data Processing, Inc.
5,995.7
909.9
15.2
Trinet Group, Inc.
4,992.2
354.8
7.1

To view the market share and analysis for all 4 top companies in this industry, view purchase options.

Products & Services Segmentation

Professional Employer Organizations in the US
Products & Services
IBISWorld Logo Source: IBISWorld

Industry revenue is measured across several distinct product and services lines, including Companies with less than 50 employees, Companies with 50 to 249 employees and Companies with 250 or more employees. Companies with less than 50 employees is the largest segment of the Professional Employer Organizations in the US.

Trends and Insights

PEOs serve various different businesses

  • This industry provides different types of products, such as comprehensive professional employer organization (PEO) services, payroll and HR-only PEO services, staff training and performance management.
  • More insights available in the full report

Table of Contents

About this industry

Industry definition

Companies in this industry provide human relations management and administration services through a co-employment relationship. Corporations pay professional employer organizations (PEOs) to administer their employee benefits. These include functions such as payroll, benefits, workers' compensation and training.

What's included in this industry?

Payroll and HR-only PEO servicesStaff trainingPerformance managementComprehensive HR management services

Companies

Insperity, Inc.Automatic Data Processing, Inc.Trinet Group, Inc.

Purchase this report to view all 4 major companies in this industry.

Related Terms

CO-EMPLOYMENTEMPLOYEE BENEFITSEMPLOYEE LEASINGPROFESSIONAL EMPLOYER ORGANIZATION (PEO)OUTSOURCEWORKSITE EMPLOYEE (WSE)

Industry Code

NAICS 2017

NAICS 56133 - Professional Employer Organizations in the US

Performance

Get an indication of the industry's health through historical, current and forward-looking trends in the performance indicators that make or break businesses.

Analyst insights

Revenue volatility has been high because of the pandemic. COVID-19 more than doubled the national unemployment rate, but PEOs maintained service demand because of the complex...

In this chapter (4)

  • Current Performance
  • Outlook
  • Volatility
  • Life Cycle

Key metrics

  • Annual Revenue, Recent Growth, Forecast, Revenue Volatility
  • Number of Employees, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Employee
  • Number of Businesses, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Business
  • Total Profit, Profit Margin, Profit per Business

Charts

  • Revenue, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
  • Employees, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
  • Businesses, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
  • Profit, including historical (2014-2024)
  • Industry Volatility vs. Revenue Growth
  • Industry Life Cycle

Detailed analysis

  • Trends in supply, demand and current events that are driving current industry performance
  • Expected trends, economic factors and ongoing events that drive the industry's outlook
  • Key success factors for businesses to overcome volatility
  • How contribution to GDP, industry saturation, innovation, consolidation, and technology and systems influence the industry's life cycle phase.

Products and Markets

Learn about an industry's products and services, markets and trends in international trade.

Analyst insight

Comprehensive PEO services represent the industry's largest revenue stream. External competition for individual services is much higher, so PEOs usually secure lucrative cont...

In this chapter

  • Products & Services
  • Major Markets

Key metrics

  • Largest market segment and value in 2024
  • Product innovation level

Charts

  • Products & services segmentation in 2024
  • Major market segmentation in 2024

Detailed analysis

  • Trends impacting the recent performance of the industry's various segments
  • Innovations in the industry's product or service offering, specialization or delivery method
  • Key factors that successful businesses consider in their offerings
  • Buying segments and key trends influencing demand for industry products and services

Geographic Breakdown

Discover where business activity is most concentrated in an industry and the factors driving these trends to find opportunities and conduct regional benchmarking.

Analyst insights

With its low regulatory bar and the largest portion of the US population, the Southeast attracts many downstream companies. Florida's favorable tax climate and diverse indust...

In this chapter (1)

  • Business Locations

Charts

  • Share of revenue, establishment, wages and employment in each state
  • Share of population compared to establishments in each region in 2024

Tables

  • Number and share of establishments in each state in 2024
  • Number and share of revenue each state accounts for in 2024
  • Number and share of wages each state accounts for in 2024
  • Number and share of employees in each state in 2024

Detailed analysis

  • Geographic spread of the industry across North America, and trends associated with changes in the business landscape
  • Key success factors for businesses to use location to their advantage

Competitive Forces

Get data and insights on what's driving competition in an industry and the challenges industry operators and new entrants may face, with analysis built around Porter's Five Forces framework.

Analyst insights

External competitors provide alternatives to PEO services. Internal HR departments, specialized HR service providers and insurance brokers often deliver targeted solutions th...

In this chapter (4)

  • Concentration
  • Barriers to Entry
  • Substitutes
  • Buyer & Supplier Analysis

Key metrics

  • Industry concentration level
  • Industry competition level and trend
  • Barriers to entry level and trend
  • Substitutes level and trend
  • Buyer power level and trend
  • Supplier power level and trend

Charts

  • Market share concentration among the top 4 suppliers from 2019-2024
  • Supply chain including upstream supplying industries and downstream buying industries, flow chart

Detailed analysis

  • Factors impacting the industry’s level of concentration, such as business distribution, new entrants, or merger and acquisition activity.
  • Key success factors for businesses to manage the competitive environment of the industry.
  • Challenges that potential industry entrants face such as legal, start-up costs, differentiation, labor/capital intensity and capital expenses.
  • Key success factors for potential entrants to overcome barriers to entry.
  • Competitive threats from potential substitutes for the industry’s own products and services.
  • Key success factors for how successful businesses can compete with substitutes.
  • Advantages that buyers have to keep favorable purchasing conditions.
  • Advantages that suppliers have to maintain favorable selling conditions.
  • Key success factors for how businesses can navigate buyer and supplier power.

Companies

Learn about the performance of the top companies in the industry.

Analyst insights

ADP, the industry's largest company, has bolstered its position through acquisitions. In November 2021, it acquired Integrated Design to incorporate its workforce data soluti...

In this chapter

  • Market Share Concentration
  • Companies
  • Company Spotlights

Charts

  • Industry market share by company in 2020 through 2024
  • Major companies in the industry, including market share, revenue, profit and profit margin in 2024
  • Overview of Insperity, Inc.'s performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024
  • Overview of Automatic Data Processing, Inc.'s performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024
  • Overview of Trinet Group, Inc.'s performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024
  • Overview of revenue, market share and profit margin trend for one additional company

Detailed analysis

  • Description and key data for Insperity, Inc., and factors influencing its performance in the industry
  • Description and key data for Automatic Data Processing, Inc., and factors influencing its performance in the industry
  • Description and key data for Trinet Group, Inc., and factors influencing its performance in the industry
  • Description, key data and performance trends for one additional company

External Environment

Understand the demographic, economic and regulatory factors that shape how businesses in an industry perform.   

Analyst insights

The IRS offers a certification program for PEOs, enhancing their market reliability and compliance. Certified PEOs gain an edge by demonstrating high standards in managing pa...

In this chapter

  • External Drivers
  • Regulation & Policy
  • Assistance

Key metrics

  • Regulation & policy level and trend
  • Assistance level and trend

Charts

  • Regulation & Policy historical data and forecast (2014-2029) 
  • Assistance historical data and forecast (2014-2029) 

Detailed analysis

  • Demographic and macroeconomic factors influencing the industry, including Regulation & Policy and Assistance
  • Major types of regulations, regulatory bodies, industry standards or specific regulations impacting requirements for industry operators
  • Key governmental and non-governmental groups or policies that may provide some relief for industry operators.

Financial Benchmarks

View average costs for industry operators and compare financial data against an industry's financial benchmarks over time. 

Analyst insights

Wages consistently account for the majority of revenue, encompassing PEO and worksite employees' wages. However, compensation's revenue share has declined as other categories...

In this chapter

  • Cost Structure
  • Financial Ratios
  • Key Ratios

Key metrics

  • Profit margin, and how it compares to the sector-wide margin
  • Average wages, and how it compares to the sector-wide average wage
  • Largest cost component as a percentage of revenue
  • Industry average ratios for days' receivables, industry coverage and debt-to-net-worth ratio

Charts

  • Average industry operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2024
  • Average sector operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2024
  • Investment vs. share of economy

Data tables

  • Industry Multiples (2017-2022)
  • Industry Tax Structure (2017-2022)
  • Income Statement (2017-2022)
  • Balance Sheet (2017-2022)
  • Liquidity Ratios (2017-2022)
  • Coverage Ratios (2017-2022)
  • Leverage Ratios  (2017-2022)
  • Operating Ratios (2017-2022)
  • Cash Flow & Debt Service Ratios (2014-2029)
  • Revenue per Employee (2014-2029)
  • Revenue per Enterprise (2014-2029)
  • Employees per Establishment (2014-2029)
  • Employees per Enterprise (2014-2029)
  • Average Wage (2014-2029)
  • Wages/Revenue (2014-2029)
  • Establishments per Enterprise (2014-2029)
  • IVA/Revenue (2014-2029)
  • Imports/Demand (2014-2029)
  • Exports/Revenue (2014-2029)

Detailed analysis

  • Trends in the cost component for industry operators and their impact on industry costs and profitability 

Key Statistics

Industry Data

Data Tables

Including values and annual change:

  • Revenue (2014-2029)
  • IVA (2014-2029)
  • Establishments (2014-2029)
  • Enterprises (2014-2029)
  • Employment (2014-2029)
  • Exports (2014-2029)
  • Imports (2014-2029)
  • Wages (2014-2029)

Top Questions Answered

Unlock comprehensive answers and precise data upon purchase. View purchase options.

What is the market size of the Professional Employer Organizations in the US industry in United States in 2024?

The market size of the Professional Employer Organizations in the US industry in United States is $242.1bn in 2024.

How many businesses are there in the Professional Employer Organizations in the US industry in 2024?

There are 6,210 businesses in the Professional Employer Organizations in the US industry in United States, which has grown at a CAGR of 1.6 % between 2019 and 2024.

Has the Professional Employer Organizations in the US industry in United States grown or declined over the past 5 years?

The market size of the Professional Employer Organizations in the US industry in United States has been declining at a CAGR of 0.9 % between 2019 and 2024.

What is the forecast growth of the Professional Employer Organizations in the US industry in United States over the next 5 years?

Over the next five years, the Professional Employer Organizations in the US industry in United States is expected to grow.

What are the biggest companies in the Professional Employer Organizations in the US market in United States?

The biggest companies operating in the Professional Employer Organizations market in United States are Insperity, Inc., Automatic Data Processing, Inc. and Trinet Group, Inc.

What does the Professional Employer Organizations in the US in United States include?

Payroll and HR-only PEO services and Staff training are part of the Professional Employer Organizations in the US industry.

Which companies have the highest market share in the Professional Employer Organizations in the US in United States?

The company holding the most market share in United States is Insperity, Inc..

How competitive is the Professional Employer Organizations in the US industry in United States?

The level of competition is high and increasing in the Professional Employer Organizations in the US industry in United States.

Related Industries

Widen your competitive advantage with related industries

Competitors

  • Employment & Recruiting Agencies in the US
  • Office Staffing & Temp Agencies in the US

Complementors

  • Payroll & Bookkeeping Services in the US
  • Human Resources & Benefits Administration in the US

International industries

  • Global HR & Recruitment Services
  • Payroll & Bookkeeping Services in Canada
  • Professional Employer Organizations in Mexico

View all industries in United States

Methodology

How are IBISWorld reports created?

IBISWorld has been a leading provider of trusted industry research for over 50 years to the most successful companies worldwide. With offices in Australia, the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany and China, we are proud to have local teams of analysts that conduct research, data analysis and forecasting to produce data-driven industry reports.

Our analysts start with official, verified and publicly available sources of data to build the most accurate picture of each industry. Analysts then leverage their expertise and knowledge of the local markets to synthesize trends into digestible content for IBISWorld readers. Finally, each report is reviewed by one of IBISWorld’s editors, who provide quality assurance to ensure accuracy and readability.

IBISWorld relies on human-verified data and human-written analysis to compile each standard industry report. We do not use generative AI tools to write insights, although members can choose to leverage AI-based tools within the platform to generate additional analysis formats.

What data sources do IBISWorld analysts use?

Each industry report incorporates data and research from government databases, industry-specific sources, industry contacts, and our own proprietary database of statistics and analysis to provide balanced, independent and accurate insights.

Key data sources in the US include: 

  • US Census Bureau
  • US Bureau of Labor Statistics
  • US International Trade Commission

Analysts also use industry specific sources to complement catch-all sources, although their perspective may focus on a particular organization or representative body, rather than a clear overview of all industry operations. However, when balanced against other perspectives, industry-specific sources provide insights into industry trends.

These sources include:

  • Industry and trade associations
  • Industry federations or regulators
  • Major industry players annual or quarterly filings

Finally, IBISWorld’s global data scientists maintain a proprietary database of macroeconomic and demand drivers, which our analysts use to help inform industry data and trends. They also maintain a database of statistics and analysis on thousands of industries, which has been built over our more than 50-year history and offers comprehensive insights into long-term trends.

How does IBISWorld forecast its data?

IBISWorld’s analysts and data scientists use the sources above to create forecasts for our proprietary datasets and industry statistics. Depending on the dataset, they may use regression analysis, multivariate analysis, time-series analysis or exponential smoothing techniques to project future data for the industry or driver. Additionally, analysts will leverage their local knowledge of industry operating and regulatory conditions to impart their best judgment on the forecast model.

IBISWorld prides itself on being a trusted, independent source of data, with over 50 years of experience building and maintaining rich datasets and forecasting tools. We are proud to be the keystone source of industry information for thousands of companies across the world.

Learn more about our methodology and data sourcing on the Help Center.