Providence County, Rhode Island Employment Sector Statistics (2024)
Workforce distribution by employment sector for Providence County, Rhode Island
Employment Indicators for Providence County, Rhode Island (2024)
Total Employed
334,642
Civilian 16+
Private For-Profit
70.0 %
Largest Sector
Self-Employed
5.0%
Entrepreneurship
Government
11.9%
Public Sector
Providence County, Rhode Island Workforce by Sector & Gender

Providence County, Rhode Island Employment Sector Breakdown
| Sector | Total Workers | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Private For-Profit | 234,368 | 70.0% |
| Government | 39,764 | 11.9% |
| Self-Employed | 16,832 | 5.0% |
| Private Non-Profit | 43,301 | 12.9% |
Providence County, Rhode Island Gender Ratio Analysis by Employment Sector (2024)
| Sector | Male:Female Ratio |
|---|---|
| Private For-Profit | 1.20:1 |
| Government | 0.83:1 |
| Self-Employed | 1.62:1 |
Providence County, Rhode Island Employment Trends (2010–2024)

Providence County, Rhode Island Historical Employment Sector Trends
| Year | Private | Gov | Self-Emp | Non-Profit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 70.0% | 11.9% | 5.0% | 12.9% |
| 2023 | 70.2% | 12.1% | 4.6% | 13.0% |
| 2022 | 70.9% | 12.0% | 4.4% | 12.5% |
| 2021 | 71.5% | 11.7% | 4.5% | 12.2% |
| 2020 | 72.0% | 11.5% | 4.4% | 12.0% |
| 2019 | 73.5% | 11.2% | 4.0% | 11.1% |
| 2018 | 74.3% | 10.8% | 4.0% | 10.8% |
| 2017 | 73.9% | 10.7% | 4.1% | 11.3% |
| 2016 | 73.5% | 10.9% | 4.0% | 11.4% |
| 2015 | 73.1% | 11.3% | 4.1% | 11.5% |
| 2014 | 72.5% | 11.6% | 4.3% | 11.6% |
| 2013 | 71.7% | 11.6% | 4.5% | 12.2% |
| 2012 | 71.5% | 11.5% | 4.7% | 12.2% |
| 2011 | 71.4% | 11.5% | 5.0% | 12.0% |
| 2010 | 71.6% | 11.4% | 5.1% | 11.8% |
Employment Sector FAQs for Providence County, Rhode Island
The largest employment sector in Providence County, Rhode Island is Private For-Profit, which employs 70.0% of the local workforce.
There are approximately 334,642 civilian workers aged 16 and over currently employed in Providence County, Rhode Island.
In the private for-profit sector, the male-to-female ratio is 1.20:1. This metric helps highlight gender participation across the most prominent industry classes.
Yes, the non-profit sector is notable in Providence County, Rhode Island, accounting for 12.9% of all workers.
Since 2010, the total number of workers in Providence County, Rhode Island has shown an increase, moving from 296,788 to 334,642 according to Census Bureau records.