Wilkes County, North Carolina Employment Sector Statistics (2024)
Workforce distribution by employment sector for Wilkes County, North Carolina
Employment Indicators for Wilkes County, North Carolina (2024)
Total Employed
28,660
Civilian 16+
Private For-Profit
71.0 %
Largest Sector
Self-Employed
6.7%
Entrepreneurship
Government
14.2%
Public Sector
Wilkes County, North Carolina Workforce by Sector & Gender

Wilkes County, North Carolina Employment Sector Breakdown
| Sector | Total Workers | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Private For-Profit | 20,336 | 71.0% |
| Government | 4,061 | 14.2% |
| Self-Employed | 1,931 | 6.7% |
| Private Non-Profit | 2,212 | 7.7% |
Wilkes County, North Carolina Gender Ratio Analysis by Employment Sector (2024)
| Sector | Male:Female Ratio |
|---|---|
| Private For-Profit | 1.39:1 |
| Government | 0.64:1 |
| Self-Employed | 2.19:1 |
Wilkes County, North Carolina Employment Trends (2010–2024)

Wilkes County, North Carolina Historical Employment Sector Trends
| Year | Private | Gov | Self-Emp | Non-Profit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 71.0% | 14.2% | 6.7% | 7.7% |
| 2023 | 70.6% | 13.6% | 7.2% | 8.2% |
| 2022 | 72.2% | 12.8% | 7.2% | 7.2% |
| 2021 | 71.9% | 12.5% | 8.1% | 7.0% |
| 2020 | 71.9% | 12.9% | 7.4% | 7.4% |
| 2019 | 72.7% | 13.5% | 7.6% | 5.9% |
| 2018 | 71.4% | 13.6% | 8.2% | 6.5% |
| 2017 | 70.4% | 15.1% | 7.8% | 6.5% |
| 2016 | 71.7% | 14.9% | 7.6% | 5.7% |
| 2015 | 73.4% | 13.4% | 7.4% | 5.7% |
| 2014 | 73.7% | 13.0% | 7.4% | 5.7% |
| 2013 | 73.9% | 13.1% | 7.0% | 5.7% |
| 2012 | 74.4% | 12.7% | 7.7% | 4.9% |
| 2011 | 73.8% | 12.6% | 8.5% | 4.7% |
| 2010 | 73.3% | 12.8% | 9.0% | 4.7% |
Employment Sector FAQs for Wilkes County, North Carolina
The largest employment sector in Wilkes County, North Carolina is Private For-Profit, which employs 71.0% of the local workforce.
There are approximately 28,660 civilian workers aged 16 and over currently employed in Wilkes County, North Carolina.
In the private for-profit sector, the male-to-female ratio is 1.39:1. This metric helps highlight gender participation across the most prominent industry classes.
Since 2010, the total number of workers in Wilkes County, North Carolina has shown a decrease, moving from 29,596 to 28,660 according to Census Bureau records.