Wholesale trade accounted for about 5.6 million wage and salary jobs in 2002. More than 219,000 workers in the wholesale trade industry were self-employed. Over 97 percent of the establishments in the industry are small, employing fewer than 50 workers, and they have over half of the industry’s jobs. Although some large firms employ many workers, wholesale trade is characterized by a large number of relatively small establishments when compared with other industries. Wholesale trade workers are spread throughout the country, have relatively low union membership, and are more likely to work full time than are workers in most other industries.