Arkansas Employment Sector Statistics (2024)
Workforce distribution by employment sector for Arkansas
Employment Indicators for Arkansas (2024)
Total Employed
1,341,614
Civilian 16+
Private For-Profit
70.0 %
Largest Sector
Self-Employed
6.5%
Entrepreneurship
Government
15.2%
Public Sector
Arkansas Workforce by Sector & Gender

Arkansas Employment Sector Breakdown
| Sector | Total Workers | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Private For-Profit | 938,776 | 70.0% |
| Government | 203,846 | 15.2% |
| Self-Employed | 86,956 | 6.5% |
| Private Non-Profit | 109,420 | 8.2% |
Arkansas Gender Ratio Analysis by Employment Sector (2024)
| Sector | Male:Female Ratio |
|---|---|
| Private For-Profit | 1.26:1 |
| Government | 0.69:1 |
| Self-Employed | 1.64:1 |
Arkansas Employment Trends (2010–2024)

Arkansas Historical Employment Sector Trends
| Year | Private | Gov | Self-Emp | Non-Profit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 70.0% | 15.2% | 6.5% | 8.2% |
| 2023 | 70.3% | 15.2% | 6.4% | 7.9% |
| 2022 | 70.8% | 15.1% | 6.4% | 7.6% |
| 2021 | 70.8% | 15.1% | 6.3% | 7.5% |
| 2020 | 71.1% | 15.2% | 6.0% | 7.5% |
| 2019 | 71.1% | 15.3% | 6.0% | 7.4% |
| 2018 | 70.9% | 15.3% | 6.2% | 7.4% |
| 2017 | 70.8% | 15.6% | 6.1% | 7.4% |
| 2016 | 70.2% | 16.1% | 6.1% | 7.4% |
| 2015 | 70.1% | 16.4% | 6.3% | 7.1% |
| 2014 | 69.7% | 16.7% | 6.3% | 7.1% |
| 2013 | 69.6% | 16.7% | 6.4% | 7.1% |
| 2012 | 69.7% | 16.6% | 6.6% | 6.9% |
| 2011 | 69.8% | 16.4% | 6.8% | 6.8% |
| 2010 | 69.9% | 16.1% | 7.0% | 6.7% |
Employment Sector FAQs for Arkansas
The largest employment sector in Arkansas is Private For-Profit, which employs 70.0% of the local workforce.
There are approximately 1,341,614 civilian workers aged 16 and over currently employed in Arkansas.
In the private for-profit sector, the male-to-female ratio is 1.26:1. This metric helps highlight gender participation across the most prominent industry classes.
Since 2010, the total number of workers in Arkansas has shown an increase, moving from 1,254,140 to 1,341,614 according to Census Bureau records.