Essex County, Massachusetts Employment Sector Statistics (2024)
Workforce distribution by employment sector for Essex County, Massachusetts
Employment Indicators for Essex County, Massachusetts (2024)
Total Employed
425,405
Civilian 16+
Private For-Profit
70.6 %
Largest Sector
Self-Employed
5.7%
Entrepreneurship
Government
12.1%
Public Sector
Essex County, Massachusetts Workforce by Sector & Gender

Essex County, Massachusetts Employment Sector Breakdown
| Sector | Total Workers | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Private For-Profit | 300,466 | 70.6% |
| Government | 51,464 | 12.1% |
| Self-Employed | 24,373 | 5.7% |
| Private Non-Profit | 48,724 | 11.5% |
Essex County, Massachusetts Gender Ratio Analysis by Employment Sector (2024)
| Sector | Male:Female Ratio |
|---|---|
| Private For-Profit | 1.18:1 |
| Government | 0.72:1 |
| Self-Employed | 1.38:1 |
Essex County, Massachusetts Employment Trends (2010–2024)

Essex County, Massachusetts Historical Employment Sector Trends
| Year | Private | Gov | Self-Emp | Non-Profit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 70.6% | 12.1% | 5.7% | 11.5% |
| 2023 | 70.8% | 12.0% | 5.9% | 11.2% |
| 2022 | 71.3% | 11.6% | 5.9% | 11.1% |
| 2021 | 71.6% | 11.5% | 5.8% | 11.0% |
| 2020 | 71.6% | 11.5% | 6.0% | 10.9% |
| 2019 | 71.7% | 11.5% | 5.9% | 10.8% |
| 2018 | 71.6% | 11.5% | 6.1% | 10.8% |
| 2017 | 71.1% | 11.7% | 6.1% | 10.9% |
| 2016 | 71.1% | 11.8% | 6.2% | 10.8% |
| 2015 | 70.7% | 12.0% | 6.1% | 11.0% |
| 2014 | 70.3% | 12.2% | 6.3% | 11.0% |
| 2013 | 70.3% | 12.4% | 6.3% | 10.8% |
| 2012 | 70.4% | 12.4% | 6.5% | 10.6% |
| 2011 | 70.2% | 12.5% | 6.7% | 10.3% |
| 2010 | 70.7% | 12.6% | 6.9% | 9.6% |
Employment Sector FAQs for Essex County, Massachusetts
The largest employment sector in Essex County, Massachusetts is Private For-Profit, which employs 70.6% of the local workforce.
There are approximately 425,405 civilian workers aged 16 and over currently employed in Essex County, Massachusetts.
In the private for-profit sector, the male-to-female ratio is 1.18:1. This metric helps highlight gender participation across the most prominent industry classes.
Yes, the non-profit sector is notable in Essex County, Massachusetts, accounting for 11.5% of all workers.
Since 2010, the total number of workers in Essex County, Massachusetts has shown an increase, moving from 366,590 to 425,405 according to Census Bureau records.