DeKalb County, Illinois Employment Sector Statistics (2024)
Workforce distribution by employment sector for DeKalb County, Illinois
Employment Indicators for DeKalb County, Illinois (2024)
Total Employed
51,880
Civilian 16+
Private For-Profit
70.1 %
Largest Sector
Self-Employed
5.2%
Entrepreneurship
Government
17.4%
Public Sector
DeKalb County, Illinois Workforce by Sector & Gender

DeKalb County, Illinois Employment Sector Breakdown
| Sector | Total Workers | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Private For-Profit | 36,380 | 70.1% |
| Government | 9,049 | 17.4% |
| Self-Employed | 2,719 | 5.2% |
| Private Non-Profit | 3,710 | 7.2% |
DeKalb County, Illinois Gender Ratio Analysis by Employment Sector (2024)
| Sector | Male:Female Ratio |
|---|---|
| Private For-Profit | 1.27:1 |
| Government | 0.96:1 |
| Self-Employed | 1.61:1 |
DeKalb County, Illinois Employment Trends (2010–2024)

DeKalb County, Illinois Historical Employment Sector Trends
| Year | Private | Gov | Self-Emp | Non-Profit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 70.1% | 17.4% | 5.2% | 7.2% |
| 2023 | 70.1% | 16.8% | 5.3% | 7.8% |
| 2022 | 69.7% | 17.4% | 5.1% | 7.7% |
| 2021 | 70.7% | 16.9% | 4.9% | 7.4% |
| 2020 | 71.4% | 16.1% | 4.4% | 7.8% |
| 2019 | 70.8% | 16.8% | 4.2% | 7.9% |
| 2018 | 71.3% | 16.8% | 4.2% | 7.4% |
| 2017 | 69.6% | 18.8% | 3.9% | 7.4% |
| 2016 | 68.9% | 19.6% | 3.7% | 7.4% |
| 2015 | 69.0% | 20.0% | 3.9% | 6.7% |
| 2014 | 69.0% | 20.2% | 4.3% | 6.1% |
| 2013 | 67.9% | 21.2% | 4.6% | 5.8% |
| 2012 | 68.9% | 19.8% | 4.9% | 6.1% |
| 2011 | 68.5% | 20.0% | 5.1% | 6.1% |
| 2010 | 68.4% | 19.8% | 5.5% | 6.1% |
Employment Sector FAQs for DeKalb County, Illinois
The largest employment sector in DeKalb County, Illinois is Private For-Profit, which employs 70.1% of the local workforce.
There are approximately 51,880 civilian workers aged 16 and over currently employed in DeKalb County, Illinois.
In the private for-profit sector, the male-to-female ratio is 1.27:1. This metric helps highlight gender participation across the most prominent industry classes.
Since 2010, the total number of workers in DeKalb County, Illinois has shown a decrease, moving from 53,681 to 51,880 according to Census Bureau records.