Howard County, Iowa Employment Sector Statistics (2024)
Workforce distribution by employment sector for Howard County, Iowa
Employment Indicators for Howard County, Iowa (2024)
Total Employed
4,658
Civilian 16+
Private For-Profit
67.5 %
Largest Sector
Self-Employed
11.7%
Entrepreneurship
Government
9.3%
Public Sector
Howard County, Iowa Workforce by Sector & Gender

Howard County, Iowa Employment Sector Breakdown
| Sector | Total Workers | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Private For-Profit | 3,143 | 67.5% |
| Government | 432 | 9.3% |
| Self-Employed | 543 | 11.7% |
| Private Non-Profit | 520 | 11.2% |
Howard County, Iowa Gender Ratio Analysis by Employment Sector (2024)
| Sector | Male:Female Ratio |
|---|---|
| Private For-Profit | 1.46:1 |
| Government | 0.25:1 |
| Self-Employed | 2.55:1 |
Howard County, Iowa Employment Trends (2010–2024)

Howard County, Iowa Historical Employment Sector Trends
| Year | Private | Gov | Self-Emp | Non-Profit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 67.5% | 9.3% | 11.7% | 11.2% |
| 2023 | 67.9% | 10.5% | 10.4% | 10.6% |
| 2022 | 66.7% | 12.5% | 10.2% | 9.6% |
| 2021 | 64.2% | 14.3% | 9.0% | 11.2% |
| 2020 | 63.8% | 12.4% | 10.6% | 11.3% |
| 2019 | 65.7% | 12.6% | 9.1% | 11.4% |
| 2018 | 67.9% | 12.9% | 9.6% | 9.5% |
| 2017 | 66.4% | 12.0% | 10.7% | 10.7% |
| 2016 | 66.7% | 13.0% | 10.5% | 9.2% |
| 2015 | 66.6% | 12.9% | 11.0% | 8.4% |
| 2014 | 64.5% | 12.0% | 12.1% | 10.2% |
| 2013 | 64.1% | 10.7% | 13.8% | 10.3% |
| 2012 | 66.9% | 10.4% | 12.9% | 8.8% |
| 2011 | 66.0% | 9.0% | 14.7% | 9.3% |
| 2010 | 68.0% | 9.0% | 13.8% | 8.8% |
Employment Sector FAQs for Howard County, Iowa
The largest employment sector in Howard County, Iowa is Private For-Profit, which employs 67.5% of the local workforce.
There are approximately 4,658 civilian workers aged 16 and over currently employed in Howard County, Iowa.
In the private for-profit sector, the male-to-female ratio is 1.46:1. This metric helps highlight gender participation across the most prominent industry classes.
Yes, the non-profit sector is notable in Howard County, Iowa, accounting for 11.2% of all workers.
Since 2010, the total number of workers in Howard County, Iowa has shown a decrease, moving from 5,010 to 4,658 according to Census Bureau records.