Knox County, Tennessee Employment Sector Statistics (2024)
Workforce distribution by employment sector for Knox County, Tennessee
Employment Indicators for Knox County, Tennessee (2024)
Total Employed
252,207
Civilian 16+
Private For-Profit
70.9 %
Largest Sector
Self-Employed
5.7%
Entrepreneurship
Government
14.4%
Public Sector
Knox County, Tennessee Workforce by Sector & Gender

Knox County, Tennessee Employment Sector Breakdown
| Sector | Total Workers | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Private For-Profit | 178,814 | 70.9% |
| Government | 36,330 | 14.4% |
| Self-Employed | 14,461 | 5.7% |
| Private Non-Profit | 22,135 | 8.8% |
Knox County, Tennessee Gender Ratio Analysis by Employment Sector (2024)
| Sector | Male:Female Ratio |
|---|---|
| Private For-Profit | 1.24:1 |
| Government | 0.84:1 |
| Self-Employed | 1.51:1 |
Knox County, Tennessee Employment Trends (2010–2024)

Knox County, Tennessee Historical Employment Sector Trends
| Year | Private | Gov | Self-Emp | Non-Profit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 70.9% | 14.4% | 5.7% | 8.8% |
| 2023 | 71.2% | 14.2% | 5.9% | 8.4% |
| 2022 | 71.3% | 14.3% | 5.8% | 8.4% |
| 2021 | 71.1% | 14.1% | 6.4% | 8.2% |
| 2020 | 71.5% | 14.1% | 6.2% | 8.0% |
| 2019 | 71.2% | 14.6% | 6.3% | 7.7% |
| 2018 | 70.9% | 14.5% | 6.4% | 8.0% |
| 2017 | 70.8% | 14.3% | 6.4% | 8.4% |
| 2016 | 71.3% | 13.9% | 6.0% | 8.7% |
| 2015 | 71.4% | 13.6% | 5.9% | 8.9% |
| 2014 | 71.5% | 13.3% | 5.9% | 9.2% |
| 2013 | 71.7% | 13.3% | 5.8% | 9.1% |
| 2012 | 72.2% | 13.2% | 5.8% | 8.8% |
| 2011 | 72.4% | 13.2% | 5.8% | 8.5% |
| 2010 | 72.2% | 13.7% | 5.9% | 8.2% |
Employment Sector FAQs for Knox County, Tennessee
The largest employment sector in Knox County, Tennessee is Private For-Profit, which employs 70.9% of the local workforce.
There are approximately 252,207 civilian workers aged 16 and over currently employed in Knox County, Tennessee.
In the private for-profit sector, the male-to-female ratio is 1.24:1. This metric helps highlight gender participation across the most prominent industry classes.
Since 2010, the total number of workers in Knox County, Tennessee has shown an increase, moving from 209,556 to 252,207 according to Census Bureau records.