District of Columbia Employment Sector Statistics (2024)
Workforce distribution by employment sector for the District of Columbia
Employment Indicators for the District of Columbia (2024)
Total Employed
374,990
Civilian 16+
Private For-Profit
48.4 %
Largest Sector
Self-Employed
4.4%
Entrepreneurship
Government
26.3%
Public Sector
District of Columbia Workforce by Sector & Gender
District of Columbia Employment Sector Breakdown
| Sector | Total Workers | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Private For-Profit | 181,569 | 48.4% |
| Government | 98,658 | 26.3% |
| Self-Employed | 16,341 | 4.4% |
| Private Non-Profit | 77,986 | 20.8% |
District of Columbia Gender Ratio Analysis by Employment Sector (2024)
| Sector | Male:Female Ratio |
|---|---|
| Private For-Profit | 1.11:1 |
| Government | 0.85:1 |
| Self-Employed | 1.12:1 |
District of Columbia Employment Trends (2010–2024)
District of Columbia Historical Employment Sector Trends
| Year | Private | Gov | Self-Emp | Non-Profit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 48.4% | 26.3% | 4.4% | 20.8% |
| 2023 | 48.7% | 26.3% | 4.3% | 20.5% |
| 2022 | 50.3% | 25.3% | 4.5% | 19.7% |
| 2021 | 50.5% | 25.2% | 4.5% | 19.5% |
| 2020 | 51.1% | 24.8% | 4.3% | 19.7% |
| 2019 | 51.8% | 24.3% | 4.4% | 19.4% |
| 2018 | 52.2% | 24.1% | 4.4% | 19.1% |
| 2017 | 51.6% | 24.6% | 4.3% | 19.4% |
| 2016 | 51.6% | 24.6% | 4.4% | 19.3% |
| 2015 | 50.8% | 25.4% | 4.4% | 19.2% |
| 2014 | 50.4% | 26.0% | 4.4% | 19.1% |
| 2013 | 49.8% | 26.5% | 4.6% | 18.9% |
| 2012 | 49.3% | 26.9% | 4.8% | 18.9% |
| 2011 | 49.9% | 27.0% | 4.6% | 18.4% |
| 2010 | 50.6% | 26.3% | 5.0% | 17.9% |
Employment Sector FAQs for District of Columbia
The largest employment sector in the District of Columbia is Private For-Profit, which employs 48.4% of the local workforce.
There are approximately 374,990 civilian workers aged 16 and over currently employed in the District of Columbia.
In the private for-profit sector, the male-to-female ratio is 1.11:1. This metric helps highlight gender participation across the most prominent industry classes.
Yes, the non-profit sector is notable in the District of Columbia, accounting for 20.8% of all workers.
Since 2010, the total number of workers in the District of Columbia has shown an increase, moving from 297,189 to 374,990 according to Census Bureau records.