Durham County, North Carolina Employment Sector Statistics (2024)
Workforce distribution by employment sector for Durham County, North Carolina
Employment Indicators for Durham County, North Carolina (2024)
Total Employed
177,032
Civilian 16+
Private For-Profit
64.3 %
Largest Sector
Self-Employed
4.6%
Entrepreneurship
Government
15.9%
Public Sector
Durham County, North Carolina Workforce by Sector & Gender

Durham County, North Carolina Employment Sector Breakdown
| Sector | Total Workers | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Private For-Profit | 113,916 | 64.3% |
| Government | 28,126 | 15.9% |
| Self-Employed | 8,087 | 4.6% |
| Private Non-Profit | 26,659 | 15.1% |
Durham County, North Carolina Gender Ratio Analysis by Employment Sector (2024)
| Sector | Male:Female Ratio |
|---|---|
| Private For-Profit | 1.17:1 |
| Government | 0.62:1 |
| Self-Employed | 1.59:1 |
Durham County, North Carolina Employment Trends (2010–2024)

Durham County, North Carolina Historical Employment Sector Trends
| Year | Private | Gov | Self-Emp | Non-Profit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 64.3% | 15.9% | 4.6% | 15.1% |
| 2023 | 65.0% | 15.5% | 4.2% | 15.1% |
| 2022 | 65.5% | 15.5% | 4.2% | 14.7% |
| 2021 | 65.6% | 15.8% | 4.1% | 14.3% |
| 2020 | 66.8% | 15.0% | 4.1% | 13.9% |
| 2019 | 66.4% | 16.0% | 4.3% | 13.2% |
| 2018 | 66.4% | 15.9% | 4.5% | 13.1% |
| 2017 | 66.4% | 16.1% | 4.6% | 12.8% |
| 2016 | 65.4% | 16.7% | 4.8% | 12.9% |
| 2015 | 65.0% | 16.8% | 4.9% | 13.2% |
| 2014 | 64.3% | 17.3% | 4.9% | 13.5% |
| 2013 | 63.6% | 17.9% | 4.9% | 13.6% |
| 2012 | 63.1% | 18.1% | 4.9% | 13.9% |
| 2011 | 63.6% | 18.2% | 4.6% | 13.5% |
| 2010 | 63.5% | 18.1% | 4.5% | 13.8% |
Employment Sector FAQs for Durham County, North Carolina
The largest employment sector in Durham County, North Carolina is Private For-Profit, which employs 64.3% of the local workforce.
There are approximately 177,032 civilian workers aged 16 and over currently employed in Durham County, North Carolina.
In the private for-profit sector, the male-to-female ratio is 1.17:1. This metric helps highlight gender participation across the most prominent industry classes.
Yes, the non-profit sector is notable in Durham County, North Carolina, accounting for 15.1% of all workers.
Since 2010, the total number of workers in Durham County, North Carolina has shown an increase, moving from 129,486 to 177,032 according to Census Bureau records.