Buncombe County, North Carolina Employment Sector Statistics (2024)
Workforce distribution by employment sector for Buncombe County, North Carolina
Employment Indicators for Buncombe County, North Carolina (2024)
Total Employed
130,666
Civilian 16+
Private For-Profit
73.3 %
Largest Sector
Self-Employed
7.7%
Entrepreneurship
Government
11.1%
Public Sector
Buncombe County, North Carolina Workforce by Sector & Gender

Buncombe County, North Carolina Employment Sector Breakdown
| Sector | Total Workers | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Private For-Profit | 95,756 | 73.3% |
| Government | 14,555 | 11.1% |
| Self-Employed | 10,072 | 7.7% |
| Private Non-Profit | 10,060 | 7.7% |
Buncombe County, North Carolina Gender Ratio Analysis by Employment Sector (2024)
| Sector | Male:Female Ratio |
|---|---|
| Private For-Profit | 1.21:1 |
| Government | 0.64:1 |
| Self-Employed | 1.37:1 |
Buncombe County, North Carolina Employment Trends (2010–2024)

Buncombe County, North Carolina Historical Employment Sector Trends
| Year | Private | Gov | Self-Emp | Non-Profit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 73.3% | 11.1% | 7.7% | 7.7% |
| 2023 | 73.0% | 11.7% | 7.9% | 7.1% |
| 2022 | 73.5% | 11.5% | 7.6% | 7.1% |
| 2021 | 72.9% | 11.6% | 8.0% | 7.3% |
| 2020 | 72.4% | 11.6% | 8.1% | 7.7% |
| 2019 | 71.0% | 11.4% | 8.8% | 8.5% |
| 2018 | 70.3% | 11.4% | 8.7% | 9.5% |
| 2017 | 69.7% | 11.8% | 8.3% | 10.0% |
| 2016 | 68.8% | 12.4% | 8.6% | 10.0% |
| 2015 | 68.6% | 12.4% | 8.4% | 10.4% |
| 2014 | 68.3% | 13.3% | 8.1% | 10.2% |
| 2013 | 67.8% | 14.0% | 8.2% | 9.9% |
| 2012 | 67.6% | 14.0% | 8.8% | 9.5% |
| 2011 | 67.5% | 14.7% | 8.6% | 9.1% |
| 2010 | 67.8% | 14.8% | 8.5% | 8.8% |
Employment Sector FAQs for Buncombe County, North Carolina
The largest employment sector in Buncombe County, North Carolina is Private For-Profit, which employs 73.3% of the local workforce.
There are approximately 130,666 civilian workers aged 16 and over currently employed in Buncombe County, North Carolina.
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.
Since 2010, the total number of workers in Buncombe County, North Carolina has shown an increase, moving from 113,559 to 130,666 according to Census Bureau records.