Question 20·Medium·Command of Evidence
Incorporated and Unincorporated Self-Employment Rates in Four Occupational Fields, 2015
| Occupational field | Incorporated self-employment rate | Unincorporated self-employment rate |
|---|---|---|
| Construction and resource extraction | 4.4% | 14.8% |
| Installation, maintenance, and repair | 2.7% | 6.2% |
| Management, business, and financial services | 8.9% | 9.7% |
| Sales and related | 5.8% | 7.8% |
Self-employed workers—individuals who are not employees of other individuals or businesses but instead earn their income as business owners, independent contractors, or freelance workers—make up an important part of the US labor force. In order to receive legal and tax benefits enjoyed by corporations, self-employed individuals may choose to incorporate their business. A 2015 survey of incorporated and unincorporated self-employment rates in four occupational fields showed that the highest incorporated self-employment rate occurred among people working in _____
Which choice most effectively uses data from the table to complete the statement?
For table and chart questions, first underline the exact quantity you’re being asked about (for example, “highest incorporated self-employment rate”). Then go straight to the correct column or row, ignore all background text and unrelated numbers, and compare only the relevant values. Quickly identify the maximum or minimum as needed, match it to the correct label, and double-check that you didn’t accidentally use data from the wrong column.
Hints
Focus on the correct column
The question asks about incorporated self-employment. Make sure you are looking at the incorporated self-employment rate column, not the unincorporated one.
Ignore extra information
You do not need the definitions or background about self-employment to answer the question. Only the numbers in the table matter here.
Compare all the relevant numbers
Write down or mentally note each percentage in the incorporated column and ask yourself: which of these is the largest?
Step-by-step Explanation
Identify what the question is asking for
The question asks about the highest incorporated self-employment rate. That means you should focus only on the “Incorporated self-employment rate” column in the table, not the unincorporated rates.
Locate and compare the relevant numbers
Look down the incorporated column and note the values for each field:
- Construction and resource extraction:
- Installation, maintenance, and repair:
- Management, business, and financial services:
- Sales and related:
Now compare these four percentages to see which one is the largest.
Find the largest value and match it to the field
Among , , , and , the largest value is . This value appears in the row for management, business, and financial services. Therefore, the correct answer is management, business, and financial services occupations.