Watauga County, North Carolina Employment Sector Statistics (2024)
Workforce distribution by employment sector for Watauga County, North Carolina
Employment Indicators for Watauga County, North Carolina (2024)
Total Employed
26,768
Civilian 16+
Private For-Profit
64.2 %
Largest Sector
Self-Employed
7.4%
Entrepreneurship
Government
18.9%
Public Sector
Watauga County, North Carolina Workforce by Sector & Gender

Watauga County, North Carolina Employment Sector Breakdown
| Sector | Total Workers | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Private For-Profit | 17,198 | 64.2% |
| Government | 5,065 | 18.9% |
| Self-Employed | 1,989 | 7.4% |
| Private Non-Profit | 2,420 | 9.0% |
Watauga County, North Carolina Gender Ratio Analysis by Employment Sector (2024)
| Sector | Male:Female Ratio |
|---|---|
| Private For-Profit | 1.22:1 |
| Government | 0.91:1 |
| Self-Employed | 1.75:1 |
Watauga County, North Carolina Employment Trends (2010–2024)

Watauga County, North Carolina Historical Employment Sector Trends
| Year | Private | Gov | Self-Emp | Non-Profit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 64.2% | 18.9% | 7.4% | 9.0% |
| 2023 | 62.1% | 20.0% | 7.5% | 10.1% |
| 2022 | 62.4% | 20.0% | 7.7% | 9.7% |
| 2021 | 61.0% | 20.4% | 8.1% | 10.3% |
| 2020 | 61.4% | 19.9% | 8.8% | 9.7% |
| 2019 | 60.0% | 20.9% | 9.3% | 9.7% |
| 2018 | 61.0% | 21.0% | 8.9% | 8.9% |
| 2017 | 61.4% | 21.7% | 7.9% | 8.7% |
| 2016 | 61.8% | 22.3% | 7.7% | 7.7% |
| 2015 | 61.5% | 22.8% | 7.3% | 7.8% |
| 2014 | 60.3% | 22.7% | 8.0% | 8.4% |
| 2013 | 60.4% | 22.6% | 8.5% | 8.1% |
| 2012 | 59.8% | 22.8% | 8.9% | 8.0% |
| 2011 | 58.5% | 22.4% | 9.6% | 9.2% |
| 2010 | 57.0% | 23.2% | 10.6% | 8.8% |
Employment Sector FAQs for Watauga County, North Carolina
The largest employment sector in Watauga County, North Carolina is Private For-Profit, which employs 64.2% of the local workforce.
There are approximately 26,768 civilian workers aged 16 and over currently employed in Watauga County, North Carolina.
In the private for-profit sector, the male-to-female ratio is 1.22:1. This metric helps highlight gender participation across the most prominent industry classes.
Since 2010, the total number of workers in Watauga County, North Carolina has shown an increase, moving from 25,550 to 26,768 according to Census Bureau records.