Howard County, Maryland Employment Sector Statistics (2024)
Workforce distribution by employment sector for Howard County, Maryland
Employment Indicators for Howard County, Maryland (2024)
Total Employed
175,641
Civilian 16+
Private For-Profit
60.2 %
Largest Sector
Self-Employed
4.9%
Entrepreneurship
Government
22.9%
Public Sector
Howard County, Maryland Workforce by Sector & Gender

Howard County, Maryland Employment Sector Breakdown
| Sector | Total Workers | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Private For-Profit | 105,747 | 60.2% |
| Government | 40,279 | 22.9% |
| Self-Employed | 8,610 | 4.9% |
| Private Non-Profit | 20,763 | 11.8% |
Howard County, Maryland Gender Ratio Analysis by Employment Sector (2024)
| Sector | Male:Female Ratio |
|---|---|
| Private For-Profit | 1.24:1 |
| Government | 0.86:1 |
| Self-Employed | 1.31:1 |
Howard County, Maryland Employment Trends (2010–2024)

Howard County, Maryland Historical Employment Sector Trends
| Year | Private | Gov | Self-Emp | Non-Profit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 60.2% | 22.9% | 4.9% | 11.8% |
| 2023 | 59.9% | 23.5% | 4.6% | 11.9% |
| 2022 | 60.5% | 23.4% | 4.5% | 11.6% |
| 2021 | 60.7% | 23.1% | 4.4% | 11.7% |
| 2020 | 61.3% | 23.4% | 4.2% | 11.0% |
| 2019 | 62.2% | 22.9% | 4.2% | 10.6% |
| 2018 | 62.6% | 22.6% | 4.2% | 10.5% |
| 2017 | 62.2% | 22.7% | 4.2% | 10.8% |
| 2016 | 61.9% | 23.0% | 4.3% | 10.7% |
| 2015 | 61.4% | 23.3% | 4.6% | 10.5% |
| 2014 | 61.3% | 23.3% | 4.8% | 10.5% |
| 2013 | 61.2% | 23.3% | 4.8% | 10.6% |
| 2012 | 61.3% | 23.2% | 5.0% | 10.5% |
| 2011 | 61.5% | 22.8% | 5.3% | 10.4% |
| 2010 | 62.4% | 22.3% | 5.2% | 10.0% |
Employment Sector FAQs for Howard County, Maryland
The largest employment sector in Howard County, Maryland is Private For-Profit, which employs 60.2% of the local workforce.
There are approximately 175,641 civilian workers aged 16 and over currently employed in Howard County, Maryland.
In the private for-profit sector, the male-to-female ratio is 1.24:1. This metric helps highlight gender participation across the most prominent industry classes.
Yes, the non-profit sector is notable in Howard County, Maryland, accounting for 11.8% of all workers.
Since 2010, the total number of workers in Howard County, Maryland has shown an increase, moving from 150,099 to 175,641 according to Census Bureau records.