Rutherford County, North Carolina Employment Sector Statistics (2024)
Workforce distribution by employment sector for Rutherford County, North Carolina
Employment Indicators for Rutherford County, North Carolina (2024)
Total Employed
27,480
Civilian 16+
Private For-Profit
72.2 %
Largest Sector
Self-Employed
7.3%
Entrepreneurship
Government
14.0%
Public Sector
Rutherford County, North Carolina Workforce by Sector & Gender

Rutherford County, North Carolina Employment Sector Breakdown
| Sector | Total Workers | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Private For-Profit | 19,839 | 72.2% |
| Government | 3,846 | 14.0% |
| Self-Employed | 2,017 | 7.3% |
| Private Non-Profit | 1,666 | 6.1% |
Rutherford County, North Carolina Gender Ratio Analysis by Employment Sector (2024)
| Sector | Male:Female Ratio |
|---|---|
| Private For-Profit | 1.10:1 |
| Government | 0.64:1 |
| Self-Employed | 1.42:1 |
Rutherford County, North Carolina Employment Trends (2010–2024)

Rutherford County, North Carolina Historical Employment Sector Trends
| Year | Private | Gov | Self-Emp | Non-Profit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 72.2% | 14.0% | 7.3% | 6.1% |
| 2023 | 72.9% | 13.3% | 7.5% | 6.0% |
| 2022 | 74.7% | 12.7% | 6.8% | 5.6% |
| 2021 | 74.2% | 12.8% | 6.9% | 5.9% |
| 2020 | 72.9% | 13.4% | 6.9% | 6.7% |
| 2019 | 74.7% | 12.2% | 5.9% | 6.9% |
| 2018 | 75.0% | 12.6% | 5.8% | 6.2% |
| 2017 | 74.2% | 13.2% | 6.0% | 6.4% |
| 2016 | 74.5% | 12.9% | 6.1% | 6.4% |
| 2015 | 74.1% | 12.9% | 6.5% | 6.2% |
| 2014 | 73.9% | 13.0% | 7.0% | 5.8% |
| 2013 | 71.4% | 14.5% | 7.3% | 6.7% |
| 2012 | 72.3% | 14.6% | 7.2% | 5.8% |
| 2011 | 70.9% | 15.5% | 8.2% | 5.3% |
| 2010 | 70.9% | 14.5% | 8.8% | 5.7% |
Employment Sector FAQs for Rutherford County, North Carolina
The largest employment sector in Rutherford County, North Carolina is Private For-Profit, which employs 72.2% of the local workforce.
There are approximately 27,480 civilian workers aged 16 and over currently employed in Rutherford County, North Carolina.
In the private for-profit sector, the male-to-female ratio is 1.10:1. This metric helps highlight gender participation across the most prominent industry classes.
Since 2010, the total number of workers in Rutherford County, North Carolina has shown an increase, moving from 26,484 to 27,480 according to Census Bureau records.