Polk County, Iowa Employment Sector Statistics (2024)
Workforce distribution by employment sector for Polk County, Iowa
Employment Indicators for Polk County, Iowa (2024)
Total Employed
268,627
Civilian 16+
Private For-Profit
73.3 %
Largest Sector
Self-Employed
4.3%
Entrepreneurship
Government
12.7%
Public Sector
Polk County, Iowa Workforce by Sector & Gender
Polk County, Iowa Employment Sector Breakdown
| Sector | Total Workers | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Private For-Profit | 196,773 | 73.3% |
| Government | 34,124 | 12.7% |
| Self-Employed | 11,673 | 4.3% |
| Private Non-Profit | 25,572 | 9.5% |
Polk County, Iowa Gender Ratio Analysis by Employment Sector (2024)
| Sector | Male:Female Ratio |
|---|---|
| Private For-Profit | 1.31:1 |
| Government | 0.72:1 |
| Self-Employed | 1.18:1 |
Polk County, Iowa Employment Trends (2010–2024)
Polk County, Iowa Historical Employment Sector Trends
| Year | Private | Gov | Self-Emp | Non-Profit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 73.3% | 12.7% | 4.3% | 9.5% |
| 2023 | 73.9% | 12.2% | 4.4% | 9.3% |
| 2022 | 74.3% | 11.8% | 4.5% | 9.3% |
| 2021 | 74.4% | 11.7% | 4.5% | 9.2% |
| 2020 | 74.6% | 11.4% | 4.5% | 9.3% |
| 2019 | 75.4% | 11.3% | 4.4% | 8.8% |
| 2018 | 75.5% | 11.3% | 4.4% | 8.7% |
| 2017 | 75.3% | 11.5% | 4.4% | 8.8% |
| 2016 | 74.6% | 11.9% | 4.5% | 8.9% |
| 2015 | 74.2% | 12.3% | 4.4% | 8.9% |
| 2014 | 73.6% | 12.6% | 4.5% | 9.2% |
| 2013 | 73.3% | 12.7% | 4.7% | 9.2% |
| 2012 | 73.4% | 12.5% | 4.7% | 9.3% |
| 2011 | 73.0% | 12.5% | 4.7% | 9.8% |
| 2010 | 73.2% | 12.0% | 4.7% | 10.0% |
Employment Sector FAQs for Polk County, Iowa
The largest employment sector in Polk County, Iowa is Private For-Profit, which employs 73.3% of the local workforce.
There are approximately 268,627 civilian workers aged 16 and over currently employed in Polk County, Iowa.
In the private for-profit sector, the male-to-female ratio is 1.31:1. This metric helps highlight gender participation across the most prominent industry classes.
Since 2010, the total number of workers in Polk County, Iowa has shown an increase, moving from 225,897 to 268,627 according to Census Bureau records.