Burke County, North Carolina Employment Sector Statistics (2024)
Workforce distribution by employment sector for Burke County, North Carolina
Employment Indicators for Burke County, North Carolina (2024)
Total Employed
40,677
Civilian 16+
Private For-Profit
71.3 %
Largest Sector
Self-Employed
4.7%
Entrepreneurship
Government
16.8%
Public Sector
Burke County, North Carolina Workforce by Sector & Gender

Burke County, North Carolina Employment Sector Breakdown
| Sector | Total Workers | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Private For-Profit | 28,984 | 71.3% |
| Government | 6,822 | 16.8% |
| Self-Employed | 1,926 | 4.7% |
| Private Non-Profit | 2,869 | 7.1% |
Burke County, North Carolina Gender Ratio Analysis by Employment Sector (2024)
| Sector | Male:Female Ratio |
|---|---|
| Private For-Profit | 1.40:1 |
| Government | 0.68:1 |
| Self-Employed | 2.39:1 |
Burke County, North Carolina Employment Trends (2010–2024)

Burke County, North Carolina Historical Employment Sector Trends
| Year | Private | Gov | Self-Emp | Non-Profit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 71.3% | 16.8% | 4.7% | 7.1% |
| 2023 | 71.3% | 17.3% | 4.9% | 6.4% |
| 2022 | 70.7% | 18.3% | 4.9% | 5.9% |
| 2021 | 71.7% | 18.2% | 4.8% | 5.2% |
| 2020 | 72.6% | 16.9% | 5.6% | 4.9% |
| 2019 | 70.8% | 17.5% | 6.6% | 5.1% |
| 2018 | 70.5% | 18.3% | 5.6% | 5.6% |
| 2017 | 69.8% | 17.9% | 6.6% | 5.6% |
| 2016 | 68.9% | 18.0% | 6.8% | 6.1% |
| 2015 | 68.8% | 18.8% | 5.7% | 6.5% |
| 2014 | 68.6% | 19.1% | 5.9% | 6.1% |
| 2013 | 68.8% | 18.8% | 6.4% | 5.7% |
| 2012 | 68.9% | 18.8% | 6.4% | 5.7% |
| 2011 | 67.5% | 19.9% | 6.8% | 5.7% |
| 2010 | 67.6% | 20.0% | 6.7% | 5.6% |
Employment Sector FAQs for Burke County, North Carolina
The largest employment sector in Burke County, North Carolina is Private For-Profit, which employs 71.3% of the local workforce.
There are approximately 40,677 civilian workers aged 16 and over currently employed in Burke County, North Carolina.
In the private for-profit sector, the male-to-female ratio is 1.40:1. This metric helps highlight gender participation across the most prominent industry classes.
Since 2010, the total number of workers in Burke County, North Carolina has shown an increase, moving from 38,866 to 40,677 according to Census Bureau records.