Cleveland County, North Carolina Employment Sector Statistics (2024)
Workforce distribution by employment sector for Cleveland County, North Carolina
Employment Indicators for Cleveland County, North Carolina (2024)
Total Employed
45,005
Civilian 16+
Private For-Profit
73.2 %
Largest Sector
Self-Employed
4.9%
Entrepreneurship
Government
13.1%
Public Sector
Cleveland County, North Carolina Workforce by Sector & Gender

Cleveland County, North Carolina Employment Sector Breakdown
| Sector | Total Workers | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Private For-Profit | 32,928 | 73.2% |
| Government | 5,912 | 13.1% |
| Self-Employed | 2,196 | 4.9% |
| Private Non-Profit | 3,918 | 8.7% |
Cleveland County, North Carolina Gender Ratio Analysis by Employment Sector (2024)
| Sector | Male:Female Ratio |
|---|---|
| Private For-Profit | 1.14:1 |
| Government | 0.66:1 |
| Self-Employed | 2.49:1 |
Cleveland County, North Carolina Employment Trends (2010–2024)

Cleveland County, North Carolina Historical Employment Sector Trends
| Year | Private | Gov | Self-Emp | Non-Profit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 73.2% | 13.1% | 4.9% | 8.7% |
| 2023 | 72.6% | 13.3% | 5.3% | 8.5% |
| 2022 | 72.7% | 13.4% | 5.4% | 8.2% |
| 2021 | 73.8% | 13.8% | 4.7% | 7.6% |
| 2020 | 73.2% | 14.7% | 4.5% | 7.5% |
| 2019 | 75.2% | 13.6% | 5.2% | 5.7% |
| 2018 | 74.9% | 14.4% | 5.1% | 5.3% |
| 2017 | 73.6% | 14.9% | 5.2% | 6.2% |
| 2016 | 72.9% | 14.5% | 5.4% | 7.0% |
| 2015 | 73.6% | 13.7% | 5.7% | 6.8% |
| 2014 | 72.6% | 13.9% | 6.1% | 7.2% |
| 2013 | 72.0% | 14.0% | 6.2% | 7.6% |
| 2012 | 73.6% | 12.9% | 6.4% | 7.1% |
| 2011 | 73.3% | 13.7% | 5.8% | 7.1% |
| 2010 | 71.8% | 14.6% | 6.2% | 7.2% |
Employment Sector FAQs for Cleveland County, North Carolina
The largest employment sector in Cleveland County, North Carolina is Private For-Profit, which employs 73.2% of the local workforce.
There are approximately 45,005 civilian workers aged 16 and over currently employed in Cleveland County, North Carolina.
In the private for-profit sector, the male-to-female ratio is 1.14:1. This metric helps highlight gender participation across the most prominent industry classes.
Since 2010, the total number of workers in Cleveland County, North Carolina has shown an increase, moving from 40,619 to 45,005 according to Census Bureau records.