Rhode Island Employment Sector Statistics (2024)
Workforce distribution by employment sector for Rhode Island
Employment Indicators for Rhode Island (2024)
Total Employed
559,823
Civilian 16+
Private For-Profit
69.0 %
Largest Sector
Self-Employed
5.5%
Entrepreneurship
Government
13.1%
Public Sector
Rhode Island Workforce by Sector & Gender

Rhode Island Employment Sector Breakdown
| Sector | Total Workers | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Private For-Profit | 386,225 | 69.0% |
| Government | 73,355 | 13.1% |
| Self-Employed | 30,628 | 5.5% |
| Private Non-Profit | 68,919 | 12.3% |
Rhode Island Gender Ratio Analysis by Employment Sector (2024)
| Sector | Male:Female Ratio |
|---|---|
| Private For-Profit | 1.21:1 |
| Government | 0.90:1 |
| Self-Employed | 1.46:1 |
Rhode Island Employment Trends (2010–2024)

Rhode Island Historical Employment Sector Trends
| Year | Private | Gov | Self-Emp | Non-Profit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 69.0% | 13.1% | 5.5% | 12.3% |
| 2023 | 69.2% | 13.3% | 5.1% | 12.3% |
| 2022 | 69.5% | 13.3% | 4.9% | 12.1% |
| 2021 | 70.1% | 13.1% | 4.8% | 11.8% |
| 2020 | 70.3% | 12.9% | 4.9% | 11.7% |
| 2019 | 71.2% | 12.7% | 4.8% | 11.1% |
| 2018 | 71.7% | 12.4% | 4.9% | 10.9% |
| 2017 | 71.5% | 12.2% | 5.0% | 11.2% |
| 2016 | 71.1% | 12.4% | 5.0% | 11.4% |
| 2015 | 71.0% | 12.7% | 4.9% | 11.4% |
| 2014 | 70.4% | 13.1% | 5.0% | 11.4% |
| 2013 | 69.8% | 13.1% | 5.2% | 11.8% |
| 2012 | 69.7% | 13.2% | 5.3% | 11.8% |
| 2011 | 69.4% | 13.3% | 5.5% | 11.6% |
| 2010 | 69.5% | 13.3% | 5.8% | 11.3% |
Employment Sector FAQs for Rhode Island
The largest employment sector in Rhode Island is Private For-Profit, which employs 69.0% of the local workforce.
There are approximately 559,823 civilian workers aged 16 and over currently employed in Rhode Island.
In the private for-profit sector, the male-to-female ratio is 1.21:1. This metric helps highlight gender participation across the most prominent industry classes.
Yes, the non-profit sector is notable in Rhode Island, accounting for 12.3% of all workers.
Since 2010, the total number of workers in Rhode Island has shown an increase, moving from 515,924 to 559,823 according to Census Bureau records.