Independent (single-establishment) businesses with fewer than 100 employees accounted for 31 percent of the net increase in private nonfarm jobs in nonmetro areas between 1976 and 1980, when the Nation's employment was expanding rapidly. Those which were in operation less than 5 years in 1980 created jobs at a net rate of 76 percent. Multi-establishment firms (called corporations in this report) accounted for about 68 percent of the net increase in nonmetro jobs during 1976-80. Small corporations created almost 14 percent of the new jobs and large corporations (those with 100 or more employees) created 54 percent.