Suffolk County, Massachusetts Employment Sector Statistics (2024)
Workforce distribution by employment sector for Suffolk County, Massachusetts
Employment Indicators for Suffolk County, Massachusetts (2024)
Total Employed
439,114
Civilian 16+
Private For-Profit
65.4 %
Largest Sector
Self-Employed
4.2%
Entrepreneurship
Government
11.2%
Public Sector
Suffolk County, Massachusetts Workforce by Sector & Gender

Suffolk County, Massachusetts Employment Sector Breakdown
| Sector | Total Workers | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Private For-Profit | 287,378 | 65.4% |
| Government | 49,162 | 11.2% |
| Self-Employed | 18,495 | 4.2% |
| Private Non-Profit | 83,317 | 19.0% |
Suffolk County, Massachusetts Gender Ratio Analysis by Employment Sector (2024)
| Sector | Male:Female Ratio |
|---|---|
| Private For-Profit | 1.17:1 |
| Government | 0.77:1 |
| Self-Employed | 1.26:1 |
Suffolk County, Massachusetts Employment Trends (2010–2024)

Suffolk County, Massachusetts Historical Employment Sector Trends
| Year | Private | Gov | Self-Emp | Non-Profit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 65.4% | 11.2% | 4.2% | 19.0% |
| 2023 | 65.7% | 11.3% | 4.2% | 18.6% |
| 2022 | 66.7% | 10.8% | 4.0% | 18.4% |
| 2021 | 66.8% | 10.8% | 3.9% | 18.3% |
| 2020 | 67.4% | 10.7% | 4.0% | 17.8% |
| 2019 | 67.6% | 10.6% | 3.8% | 17.9% |
| 2018 | 67.7% | 10.6% | 3.9% | 17.7% |
| 2017 | 67.8% | 10.7% | 3.9% | 17.4% |
| 2016 | 67.6% | 10.9% | 4.2% | 17.2% |
| 2015 | 67.1% | 11.0% | 4.4% | 17.3% |
| 2014 | 67.6% | 10.9% | 4.5% | 16.8% |
| 2013 | 67.3% | 11.4% | 4.6% | 16.6% |
| 2012 | 67.2% | 11.7% | 4.6% | 16.5% |
| 2011 | 67.4% | 11.6% | 4.6% | 16.3% |
| 2010 | 67.8% | 11.8% | 4.4% | 15.9% |
Employment Sector FAQs for Suffolk County, Massachusetts
The largest employment sector in Suffolk County, Massachusetts is Private For-Profit, which employs 65.4% of the local workforce.
There are approximately 439,114 civilian workers aged 16 and over currently employed in Suffolk County, Massachusetts.
In the private for-profit sector, the male-to-female ratio is 1.17:1. This metric helps highlight gender participation across the most prominent industry classes.
Yes, the non-profit sector is notable in Suffolk County, Massachusetts, accounting for 19.0% of all workers.
Since 2010, the total number of workers in Suffolk County, Massachusetts has shown an increase, moving from 366,804 to 439,114 according to Census Bureau records.