In this study, ADPRI analyzed aggregated, anonymized payroll data from 2016. The dataset included about 12 million employees, 16 years of age and older. Garnishments carried as of the last quarter of 2016 were used in the analysis.

Categories of garnishment included state and federal bankruptcy, court-ordered and private child support, state and federal tax levy, and a category comprised of all remaining types of judgments, such as student loans and consumer loans. The rate of garnishment was calculated as a percentage of employees having their wages garnished compared to the entire workforce.

In addition to an analysis of garnishments by demographics (age and gender), geographic profiles (region and state), and industry and wages, the study also focused on garnishments carried by employees and garnishments from a company perspective.