Cook County, Illinois Employment Sector Statistics (2024)
Workforce distribution by employment sector for Cook County, Illinois
Employment Indicators for Cook County, Illinois (2024)
Total Employed
2,597,162
Civilian 16+
Private For-Profit
71.7 %
Largest Sector
Self-Employed
4.8%
Entrepreneurship
Government
12.2%
Public Sector
Cook County, Illinois Workforce by Sector & Gender

Cook County, Illinois Employment Sector Breakdown
| Sector | Total Workers | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Private For-Profit | 1,861,914 | 71.7% |
| Government | 317,459 | 12.2% |
| Self-Employed | 123,987 | 4.8% |
| Private Non-Profit | 289,449 | 11.1% |
Cook County, Illinois Gender Ratio Analysis by Employment Sector (2024)
| Sector | Male:Female Ratio |
|---|---|
| Private For-Profit | 1.25:1 |
| Government | 0.72:1 |
| Self-Employed | 1.31:1 |
Cook County, Illinois Employment Trends (2010–2024)

Cook County, Illinois Historical Employment Sector Trends
| Year | Private | Gov | Self-Emp | Non-Profit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 71.7% | 12.2% | 4.8% | 11.1% |
| 2023 | 72.2% | 12.1% | 4.7% | 10.8% |
| 2022 | 72.6% | 11.9% | 4.7% | 10.6% |
| 2021 | 73.0% | 11.6% | 4.7% | 10.5% |
| 2020 | 73.5% | 11.3% | 4.7% | 10.3% |
| 2019 | 74.2% | 11.0% | 4.6% | 10.0% |
| 2018 | 74.4% | 11.0% | 4.6% | 9.9% |
| 2017 | 74.4% | 11.1% | 4.6% | 9.9% |
| 2016 | 74.2% | 11.3% | 4.6% | 9.8% |
| 2015 | 74.1% | 11.5% | 4.5% | 9.8% |
| 2014 | 73.7% | 11.9% | 4.6% | 9.8% |
| 2013 | 73.6% | 12.1% | 4.5% | 9.7% |
| 2012 | 73.6% | 12.2% | 4.5% | 9.6% |
| 2011 | 73.7% | 12.2% | 4.5% | 9.4% |
| 2010 | 73.7% | 12.3% | 4.6% | 9.3% |
Employment Sector FAQs for Cook County, Illinois
The largest employment sector in Cook County, Illinois is Private For-Profit, which employs 71.7% of the local workforce.
There are approximately 2,597,162 civilian workers aged 16 and over currently employed in Cook County, Illinois.
In the private for-profit sector, the male-to-female ratio is 1.25:1. This metric helps highlight gender participation across the most prominent industry classes.
Yes, the non-profit sector is notable in Cook County, Illinois, accounting for 11.1% of all workers.
Since 2010, the total number of workers in Cook County, Illinois has shown an increase, moving from 2,438,989 to 2,597,162 according to Census Bureau records.