Shelby County, Tennessee Employment Sector Statistics (2024)
Workforce distribution by employment sector for Shelby County, Tennessee
Employment Indicators for Shelby County, Tennessee (2024)
Total Employed
426,285
Civilian 16+
Private For-Profit
71.4 %
Largest Sector
Self-Employed
5.5%
Entrepreneurship
Government
13.8%
Public Sector
Shelby County, Tennessee Workforce by Sector & Gender

Shelby County, Tennessee Employment Sector Breakdown
| Sector | Total Workers | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Private For-Profit | 304,254 | 71.4% |
| Government | 58,831 | 13.8% |
| Self-Employed | 23,339 | 5.5% |
| Private Non-Profit | 38,851 | 9.1% |
Shelby County, Tennessee Gender Ratio Analysis by Employment Sector (2024)
| Sector | Male:Female Ratio |
|---|---|
| Private For-Profit | 1.09:1 |
| Government | 0.66:1 |
| Self-Employed | 1.70:1 |
Shelby County, Tennessee Employment Trends (2010–2024)

Shelby County, Tennessee Historical Employment Sector Trends
| Year | Private | Gov | Self-Emp | Non-Profit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 71.4% | 13.8% | 5.5% | 9.1% |
| 2023 | 71.7% | 13.3% | 5.6% | 9.2% |
| 2022 | 72.3% | 12.9% | 5.3% | 9.2% |
| 2021 | 72.5% | 13.0% | 5.0% | 9.2% |
| 2020 | 72.6% | 13.0% | 5.0% | 9.2% |
| 2019 | 73.7% | 12.7% | 5.0% | 8.5% |
| 2018 | 73.9% | 12.9% | 5.0% | 8.1% |
| 2017 | 73.3% | 13.4% | 5.1% | 8.2% |
| 2016 | 72.9% | 13.8% | 5.1% | 8.1% |
| 2015 | 72.5% | 13.9% | 5.1% | 8.4% |
| 2014 | 71.6% | 14.4% | 5.3% | 8.6% |
| 2013 | 71.2% | 14.8% | 5.3% | 8.7% |
| 2012 | 71.3% | 14.7% | 5.3% | 8.6% |
| 2011 | 71.2% | 14.9% | 5.3% | 8.5% |
| 2010 | 71.6% | 14.8% | 5.4% | 8.1% |
Employment Sector FAQs for Shelby County, Tennessee
The largest employment sector in Shelby County, Tennessee is Private For-Profit, which employs 71.4% of the local workforce.
There are approximately 426,285 civilian workers aged 16 and over currently employed in Shelby County, Tennessee.
In the private for-profit sector, the male-to-female ratio is 1.09:1. This metric helps highlight gender participation across the most prominent industry classes.
Since 2010, the total number of workers in Shelby County, Tennessee has shown an increase, moving from 418,387 to 426,285 according to Census Bureau records.