Massachusetts Employment Sector Statistics (2024)
Workforce distribution by employment sector for Massachusetts
Employment Indicators for Massachusetts (2024)
Total Employed
3,709,853
Civilian 16+
Private For-Profit
67.7 %
Largest Sector
Self-Employed
5.5%
Entrepreneurship
Government
12.7%
Public Sector
Massachusetts Workforce by Sector & Gender

Massachusetts Employment Sector Breakdown
| Sector | Total Workers | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Private For-Profit | 2,512,917 | 67.7% |
| Government | 471,729 | 12.7% |
| Self-Employed | 203,633 | 5.5% |
| Private Non-Profit | 516,882 | 13.9% |
Massachusetts Gender Ratio Analysis by Employment Sector (2024)
| Sector | Male:Female Ratio |
|---|---|
| Private For-Profit | 1.24:1 |
| Government | 0.74:1 |
| Self-Employed | 1.23:1 |
Massachusetts Employment Trends (2010–2024)

Massachusetts Historical Employment Sector Trends
| Year | Private | Gov | Self-Emp | Non-Profit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 67.7% | 12.7% | 5.5% | 13.9% |
| 2023 | 67.9% | 12.6% | 5.6% | 13.7% |
| 2022 | 68.5% | 12.5% | 5.6% | 13.3% |
| 2021 | 68.5% | 12.4% | 5.6% | 13.3% |
| 2020 | 68.8% | 12.3% | 5.7% | 13.0% |
| 2019 | 69.2% | 12.1% | 5.7% | 12.9% |
| 2018 | 69.2% | 12.1% | 5.8% | 12.8% |
| 2017 | 69.1% | 12.1% | 5.8% | 12.8% |
| 2016 | 68.9% | 12.3% | 5.9% | 12.8% |
| 2015 | 68.6% | 12.4% | 6.1% | 12.8% |
| 2014 | 68.4% | 12.7% | 6.1% | 12.8% |
| 2013 | 68.1% | 12.8% | 6.2% | 12.7% |
| 2012 | 68.2% | 13.0% | 6.3% | 12.5% |
| 2011 | 68.3% | 13.0% | 6.4% | 12.2% |
| 2010 | 68.6% | 13.0% | 6.5% | 11.8% |
Employment Sector FAQs for Massachusetts
The largest employment sector in Massachusetts is Private For-Profit, which employs 67.7% of the local workforce.
There are approximately 3,709,853 civilian workers aged 16 and over currently employed in Massachusetts.
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 Massachusetts, accounting for 13.9% of all workers.
Since 2010, the total number of workers in Massachusetts has shown an increase, moving from 3,271,535 to 3,709,853 according to Census Bureau records.