Kentucky Employment Sector Statistics (2024)
Workforce distribution by employment sector for Kentucky
Employment Indicators for Kentucky (2024)
Total Employed
2,047,296
Civilian 16+
Private For-Profit
71.1 %
Largest Sector
Self-Employed
5.4%
Entrepreneurship
Government
14.6%
Public Sector
Kentucky Workforce by Sector & Gender
Kentucky Employment Sector Breakdown
| Sector | Total Workers | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Private For-Profit | 1,455,700 | 71.1% |
| Government | 299,396 | 14.6% |
| Self-Employed | 109,607 | 5.4% |
| Private Non-Profit | 177,796 | 8.7% |
Kentucky Gender Ratio Analysis by Employment Sector (2024)
| Sector | Male:Female Ratio |
|---|---|
| Private For-Profit | 1.29:1 |
| Government | 0.72:1 |
| Self-Employed | 1.51:1 |
Kentucky Employment Trends (2010–2024)
Kentucky Historical Employment Sector Trends
| Year | Private | Gov | Self-Emp | Non-Profit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 71.1% | 14.6% | 5.4% | 8.7% |
| 2023 | 71.2% | 14.7% | 5.3% | 8.5% |
| 2022 | 71.8% | 14.4% | 5.3% | 8.2% |
| 2021 | 72.3% | 14.4% | 5.2% | 7.9% |
| 2020 | 72.5% | 14.3% | 5.2% | 7.8% |
| 2019 | 72.7% | 14.2% | 5.2% | 7.7% |
| 2018 | 72.8% | 14.1% | 5.3% | 7.6% |
| 2017 | 72.4% | 14.4% | 5.3% | 7.7% |
| 2016 | 71.9% | 14.7% | 5.4% | 7.9% |
| 2015 | 71.4% | 15.1% | 5.4% | 7.9% |
| 2014 | 71.1% | 15.3% | 5.5% | 7.9% |
| 2013 | 70.8% | 15.6% | 5.6% | 7.9% |
| 2012 | 70.7% | 15.6% | 5.7% | 7.8% |
| 2011 | 70.8% | 15.4% | 5.9% | 7.7% |
| 2010 | 70.8% | 15.3% | 6.2% | 7.6% |
Employment Sector FAQs for Kentucky
The largest employment sector in Kentucky is Private For-Profit, which employs 71.1% of the local workforce.
There are approximately 2,047,296 civilian workers aged 16 and over currently employed in Kentucky.
In the private for-profit sector, the male-to-female ratio is 1.29:1. This metric helps highlight gender participation across the most prominent industry classes.
Since 2010, the total number of workers in Kentucky has shown an increase, moving from 1,871,531 to 2,047,296 according to Census Bureau records.