According to USA Today, there has been an increase of nearly 21,000 in the amount of Black-owned businesses in America since 2020 when there were 140,918 open for business. Although 12.4% of the U.S. population is made up of African Americans, only “2.4% of all employer-firm owners” are Black-owned businesses, which is relatively small in comparison to some of their counterparts. Particularly, white Americans, who make up the majority of society at 59% and represent 86% of businesses across the nation.

According to research conducted by the Census Bureau’s 2022 Annual Business Survey, 1.4 million citizens had jobs at Black-owned establishments, which led to $53.6 billion being paid to employees annually. Despite low staff numbers, typically fewer than 10 employees in 2020 per Pew Research Center, USA Today reported.

Check out a list of some of the largest Black-owned businesses that employ thousands of people reported by Black Enterprise’s Top 100 list from 2022 and 2022, according to USA Today.

• • World Wide Technology, founded by David L. Steward, has 10,000 employees globally and rakes in $17B annually.

• • ActOne Group, founded by Janice Bryant Howroyd, has 2,600 employees globally and rakes in $1.1B annually.

• • Bridge Water Interiors LLC, founded by Ron Hall Sr., has 2,400 employees nationally and ranks in $2B annually.

• • Coca-Cola Beverages Florida L.L.C., founded by Troy Taylor, has around 5,000 employees nationally and rakes in over $250M annually.

• • Modular Assembly Innovations L.L.C., founded by Billy Vickers, has 281 employees nationally and rakes $1B annually.

• • Thompson Hospitality Corp., founded by Warren Thompson, has 6,000 employees globally and rakes in $600M annually.

• • Urban One Inc., founded by Cathy Hughes, has around 1,000 employees nationally and rakes in $484M annually.

• • Hightowers Petroleum Co., founded by Stephen Hightower, has 45 employees in North America and rakes in $450M annually.

Since less than 3% of American businesses are owned by Black people, the Black community is at a huge disadvantage in becoming an equal part of America’s business infrastructure, according to data distributed by the Brookings Institution. It was discovered through their findings that there is a higher chance of Black adults being jobless, which could change if the rate of Black-owned businesses continues to increase since they’re more prone to hire people of color.

Until investors and banks stop overlooking Black-owned businesses and choose to financially support them through a fair lens, like they do their counterparts, not only will the Black community continue to suffer, but so will the overall U.S. economy per the institute’s research.