giddyOnDown1

From what I recall at my time there, banks use it as supplemental source of creditworthiness validation. The government also pays for the data to verify eligibility for welfare and other social services. Employers...I don't think were a major revenue source although I wouldn't be surprised if some used it to inform their salary thresholds.

Used to work there as a software developer and was somewhat acquainted with the business model. If you're employed and your employer outsources HR functionality to payroll providers (e.g. PayChex, ADP, etc.), there are contractual agreements to provide it to EWS, whose business model is literally more payroll records = $$$ = stock prices go up.