In 2024, the education and health services industry employed the largest number of people in the United States. That year, about 37 million people were employed in the education and health services industry. Education and Health Services Industry Despite being one of the wealthiest nations in the world, the United States has started to fall behind in both education and the health care industry. Although the U.S. spends the most money in both these industries, they do not see their desired results in comparison to other nations. Furthermore, in the education services industry, there was a relatively significant wage gap between men and women. In 2019, men earned about 1,070 U.S. dollars per week on average, while their female counterparts only earned 773 U.S. dollars per week. Employment in the U.S. The 2008 financial crisis was a large-scale event that impacted the entire world, especially the United States. The economy started to improve after 2010, and the number of people employed in the United States has been steadily increasing since then. However, the number of people employed in the education sector is expected to slowly decrease until 2026. The overall unemployment rate in the United States has decreased since 2010 as well.

The statistic shows the distribution of the workforce across economic sectors in the United States from 2013 to 2023. In 2023, 1.57 percent of the workforce in the US was employed in agriculture, 19.34 percent in industry and 79.09 percent in services. See U.S. GDP per capita for more information. American workforce A significant majority of the American labor force is employed in the services sector, while the other sectors, industry and agriculture, account for less than 20 percent of the US economy. However, the United States is among the top exporters of agricultural goods – the total value of US agricultural exports has more than doubled since 2000. A severe plunge in the employment rate in the US since 1990 shows that the American economy is still in turmoil after the economic crisis of 2008. Unemployment is still significantly higher than it was before the crisis, and most of those unemployed and looking for a job are younger than 25; youth unemployment is a severe problem for the United States, many college or university graduates struggle to find a job right away. Still, the number of employees in the US since 1990 has been increasing slowly, with a slight setback during and after the recession. Both the number of full-time and of part-time workers have increased during the same period. When looking at the distribution of jobs among men and women, both project the general downward trend. A comparison of the employment rate of men in the US since 1990 and the employment rate of women since 1990 shows that more men tend to be employed than women.

As of June 2025, there were about 22.6 million people working in the professional and business services industry in the United States. The health care and social assistance industry employed the most people in the U.S., with over 23.3 million people working in this industry.

Graph and download economic data for Business Sector: Employment for All Workers (PRS84006011) from Q1 1948 to Q2 2025 about productivity, sector, business, employment, rate, and USA.

Job Growth Statistics: Statistics on job growth are essential in understanding the state and trajectory of an economy because they offer insight into the shifting dynamics of labor markets. By measuring net job addition or subtraction over a certain timeframe, employment growth statistics allow policymakers, companies, and individuals to make well-informed decisions regarding workforce planning, investment decisions, or career choices. Statistics on job growth provide a key measure of economic development as they show whether an economy is expanding, contracting, or remaining stable. Positive employment growth numbers often signal healthy economies with increased consumer spending and company confidence. Conversely, negative or stagnant job growth indicates a slowdown or recession. Furthermore, statistics on employment growth may also be used to highlight developing markets and professions for policymakers as well as job seekers in finding prospective development areas. As such, employment data provides an essential means of measuring an economy's current state and future direction, as well as helping shape policies and initiatives within it. Editor’s Choice From 2020-2030; job growth in the US is anticipated to be 5.3%. Nurse practitioners are predicted to experience the highest job growth; between 2021-2031 at 45.7%; 2019 alone saw sectors producing goods create 188,000 new jobs. Leisure and hospitality job creation decreased by 47% year-on-year between April 2020 and March 2021. President Clinton created 19 million new employment opportunities between June and July of 2022 and 528,000 nonfarm payroll employees were gained; yet by April 2020 20.5 million jobs had been lost from the economy as a whole. By 2031, it is projected that employment opportunities across the nation will reach 166.5 million; over that same timeframe childcare service workers have seen their ranks decline by 336,000. Since the COVID-19 outbreak, healthcare employment levels have suffered a dramatic decrease. By some accounts, over one and a half million employees may have left healthcare jobs since 2016. (Source: zippia.com)

Number of employees by North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) and type of employee, last 5 years.

Graph and download economic data for Other Labor Market Measures: Job Vacancies: Public Sector: Unfilled Vacancies (Stock) for United States (LMJVPBUVUSM175S) from Dec 2000 to Nov 2023 about public, job openings, stocks, vacancy, jobs, sector, and USA.

Employment Rate in the United States remained unchanged at 59.60 percent in August. This dataset provides - United States Employment Rate- actual values, historical data, forecast, chart, statistics, economic calendar and news.

Employment in industry (% of total employment) (modeled ILO estimate) in United States was reported at 19.34 % in 2023, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. United States - Employment in industry (% of total employment) - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on October of 2025.

Graph and download economic data for Employment for Manufacturing: Primary Metal Manufacturing (NAICS 331) in the United States (IPUEN331W201000000) from 1988 to 2024 about primary metals, primary, NAICS, metals, IP, manufacturing, employment, and USA.

Graph and download economic data for All Employees, Manufacturing (MANEMP) from Jan 1939 to Aug 2025 about headline figure, establishment survey, manufacturing, employment, and USA.

Graph and download economic data for Infra-Annual Registered Unemployment and Job Vacancies: Public Sector: Unfilled Vacancies for United States (LMJVPBUVUSA175N) from 2001 to 2023 about job openings, public, stocks, vacancy, jobs, sector, and USA.

Graph and download economic data for Employment for Information: Motion Picture and Video Industries (NAICS 5121) in the United States (IPUJN5121W200000000) from 1987 to 2024 about video, audio-visual, information, NAICS, IP, employment, industry, and USA.

United States US: Employment In Industry: Modeled ILO Estimate: Female: % of Female Employment data was reported at 8.347 % in 2017. This records an increase from the previous number of 8.251 % for 2016. United States US: Employment In Industry: Modeled ILO Estimate: Female: % of Female Employment data is updated yearly, averaging 9.952 % from Dec 1991 (Median) to 2017, with 27 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 13.606 % in 1991 and a record low of 7.916 % in 2010. United States US: Employment In Industry: Modeled ILO Estimate: Female: % of Female Employment data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s USA – Table US.World Bank: Employment and Unemployment. Employment is defined as persons of working age who were engaged in any activity to produce goods or provide services for pay or profit, whether at work during the reference period or not at work due to temporary absence from a job, or to working-time arrangement. The industry sector consists of mining and quarrying, manufacturing, construction, and public utilities (electricity, gas, and water), in accordance with divisions 2-5 (ISIC 2) or categories C-F (ISIC 3) or categories B-F (ISIC 4).; ; International Labour Organization, ILOSTAT database. Data retrieved in November 2017.; Weighted average; Data up to 2016 are estimates while data from 2017 are projections.

United States US: Aerospace Industry: Trade Balance data was reported at 48.890 USD bn in 2021. This records an increase from the previous number of 37.029 USD bn for 2020. United States US: Aerospace Industry: Trade Balance data is updated yearly, averaging 39.437 USD bn from Dec 1990 (Median) to 2021, with 32 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 86.993 USD bn in 2016 and a record low of 20.681 USD bn in 1995. United States US: Aerospace Industry: Trade Balance data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. The data is categorized under Global Database’s United States – Table US.OECD.MSTI: Trade Statistics: OECD Member: Annual.

For the United States, from 2021 onwards, changes to the US BERD survey questionnaire allowed for more exhaustive identification of acquisition costs for ‘identifiable intangible assets’ used for R&D. This has resulted in a substantial increase in reported R&D capital expenditure within BERD. In the business sector, the funds from the rest of the world previously included in the business-financed BERD, are available separately from 2008. From 2006 onwards, GOVERD includes state government intramural performance (most of which being financed by the federal government and state government own funds). From 2016 onwards, PNPERD data are based on a new R&D performer survey. In the higher education sector all fields of SSH are included from 2003 onwards.

Following a survey of federally-funded research and development centers (FFRDCs) in 2005, it was concluded that FFRDC R&D belongs in the government sector - rather than the sector of the FFRDC administrator, as had been reported in the past. R&D expenditures by FFRDCs were reclassified from the other three R&D performing sectors to the Government sector; previously published data were revised accordingly. Between 2003 and 2004, the method used to classify data by industry has been revised. This particularly affects the ISIC category “wholesale trade” and consequently the BERD for total services.

U.S. R&D data are generally comparable, but there are some areas of underestimation:

1. i) Up to 2008, Government sector R&D performance covers only federal government activities. That by State and local government establishments is excluded;
2. ii) Except for the Government and the Business Enterprise sectors, the R&D data exclude most capital expenditures. For the Business Enterprise sector, depreciation is reported in place of gross capital expenditures up to 2014. Higher education (and national total) data were revised back to 1998 due to an improved methodology that corrects for double-counting of R&D funds passed between institutions.

Breakdown by type of R&D (basic research, applied research, etc.) was also revised back to 1998 in the business enterprise and higher education sectors due to improved estimation procedures.

The methodology for estimating researchers was changed as of 1985. In the Government, Higher Education and PNP sectors the data since then refer to employed doctoral scientists and engineers who report their primary work activity as research, development or the management of R&D, plus, for the Higher Education sector, the number of full-time equivalent graduate students with research assistantships averaging an estimated 50 % of their time engaged in R&D activities. As of 1985 researchers in the Government sector exclude military personnel. As of 1987, Higher education R&D personnel also include those who report their primary work activity as design.

Due to lack of official data for the different employment sectors, the total researchers figure is an OECD estimate up to 2019. Comprehensive reporting of R&D personnel statistics by the United States has resumed with records available since 2020, reflecting the addition of official figures for the number of researchers and total R&D personnel for the higher education sector and the Private non-profit sector; as well as the number of researchers for the government sector. The new data revise downwards previous OECD estimates as the OECD extrapolation methods drawing on historical US data, required to produce a consistent OECD aggregate, appear to have previously overestimated the growth in the number of researchers in the higher education sector.

Pre-production development is excluded from Defence GBARD (in accordance with the Frascati Manual) as of 2000. 2009 GBARD data also includes the one time incremental R&D funding legislated in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. Beginning with the 2000 GBARD data, budgets for capital expenditure – “R&D plant” in national terminology - are included. GBARD data for earlier years relate to budgets for current costs only.

The statistic shows the distribution of employment in Latin America and the Caribbean by economic sector from 2013 to 2023. In 2023, approximately 12.59 percent of the employees in Latin America and the Caribbean were working in the agricultural sector, 20.8 percent in industry and about 66.61 percent in the service sector.

The Statistics of U.S. Businesses (SUSB) provides detailed annual data for all U.S. business establishments with paid employees by geography, industry, and enterprise size. This program covers all NAICS industries except crop and animal production; rail transportation; National Postal Service; pension, health, welfare, and vacation funds; trusts, estates, and agency accounts; private households; and public administration. The SUSB also excludes most government employees. Further, SUSB data for years 1988-1997 were tabulated based on the Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) system. The SUSB features several arts-related NAICS industries, including the following: Arts, entertainment, and recreation (NAICS Code 71) Performing arts companies Spectator sports Promoters of performing arts, sports, and similar events Independent artists, writers, and performers Museums, historical sites, and similar institutions Amusement parks and arcades Professional, scientific, and technical services (NAICS Code 54) Architectural services Graphic Design Services Landscape architectural services Photographic services Retail trade (NAICS Code 44-45) Sporting goods, hobby, and musical instrument stores Sewing, needlework, and piece goods stores Book stores Art dealers Also, the SUSB features several arts related SIC industries, including the following: Commercial photography (SIC Code 7335) Commercial art and graphic design (SIC Code 7336) Museums and art galleries (SIC Code 8412) Dance studios, schools, and halls (SIC Code 7911) Theatrical producers and services (SIC Code 7922) Sports clubs, managers, & promoters (SIC Code 7941) Motion Picture Production & Services (SIC Code 7810) Data compiled for the SUSB are extracted from the Business Register (BR). The BR contains continuously updated data from the Census Bureau's economic censuses and currently business surveys, quarterly and annual Federal tax records and other department and federal statistics. SUSB data are available approximately 24 months after each reference year and are available for the United States, each state, and Metropolitan Statistical Areas (MSA). The annual SUSB consist of number of firms, number of establishments, annual payroll, and employment during the week of March 12. In addition, estimated receipts data are included for years ending in 2 and 7. Dynamic data, which are created from the Business Information Tracking Series (BITS), consist of the number of establishments and corresponding employment change for births, deaths, expansions, and contractions. The SUSB is important because it provides the only source of annual, complete, and consistent enterprise-level data for U.S. businesses, with industry detail. Private businesses use the data for market research, strategic business planning, and managing sales territories. State and local governments, as well as, budget, economic development, and planning offices use the data to assess business changes, develop fiscal policies, and plan future policies and programs. In addition, the data are the standard reference source for small business statistics. Users can view the latest SUSB annual data and employment change data on the main SUSB page. For more detailed industry and employment size classes, users can download additional data in comma-delimited format. Annual data are tabulated back to 1988 and employment change data back to 1989-1990. Data users can find news and updates about the SUSB data via the News & Updates section.

US: Industrial Employment data was reported at 110,861.107 Person th in 2022. This records an increase from the previous number of 106,862.000 Person th for 2021. US: Industrial Employment data is updated yearly, averaging 98,772.500 Person th from Dec 1981 (Median) to 2022, with 42 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 110,861.107 Person th in 2022 and a record low of 73,562.045 Person th in 1982. US: Industrial Employment data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. The data is categorized under Global Database’s United States – Table US.OECD.MSTI: Population, Labour Force and Employment: OECD Member: Annual.

This dataset presents statistics on: the number of establishments; sales, value of shipments, or revenue; annual payroll; and number of employees whose NAICS classification has changed between the current and the previous economic censuses. Data are shown for 6-digit current economic census NAICS industries and their 8-digit previous economic census NAICS components for the U.S. Includes only establishments of firms with paid employees.

The Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW) Program is a Federal-State cooperative program between the U.S. Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) and the California EDD’s Labor Market Information Division (LMID). The QCEW program produces a comprehensive tabulation of employment and wage information for workers covered by California Unemployment Insurance (UI) laws and Federal workers covered by the Unemployment Compensation for Federal Employees (UCFE) program. The QCEW program serves as a near census of monthly employment and quarterly wage information by 6-digit industry codes from the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) at the national, state, and county levels. At the national level, the QCEW program publishes employment and wage data for nearly every NAICS industry. At the state and local area level, the QCEW program publishes employment and wage data down to the 6-digit NAICS industry level, if disclosure restrictions are met. In accordance with the BLS policy, data provided to the Bureau in confidence are used only for specified statistical purposes and are not published. The BLS withholds publication of Unemployment Insurance law-covered employment and wage data for any industry level when necessary to protect the identity of cooperating employers. Data from the QCEW program serve as an important input to many BLS programs. The Current Employment Statistics and the Occupational Employment Statistics programs use the QCEW data as the benchmark source for employment. The UI administrative records collected under the QCEW program serve as a sampling frame for the BLS establishment surveys. In addition, the data serve as an input to other federal and state programs. The Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) of the Department of Commerce uses the QCEW data as the base for developing the wage and salary component of personal income. The U.S. Department of Labor’s Employment and Training Administration (ETA) and California's EDD use the QCEW data to administer the Unemployment Insurance program. The QCEW data accurately reflect the extent of coverage of California’s UI laws and are used to measure UI revenues; national, state and local area employment; and total and UI taxable wage trends. The U.S. Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics publishes new QCEW data in its County Employment and Wages news release on a quarterly basis. The BLS also publishes a subset of its quarterly data through the Create Customized Tables system, and full quarterly industry detail data at all geographic levels.