U.S. Employment by Industry

What We're Showing

This infographic breaks down employment by industry in the United States, showing the number of employees as of April 2025.

The data comes from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, and includes both private and government non-farm employees.

Key Takeaways

• The private education and health services sector is America's biggest employer, with 27.2 million workers, or 17% of total non-farm employment.
• Professional and business services ranks second, employing 22.6 million workers and reflecting strong demand for skilled jobs.
• Retail trade (15.6 million) and leisure and hospitality (17 million) remain among the largest industries by employment, though they offer relatively lower average salaries.
• Government jobs remain significant, with local government alone employing 15.1 million people—more than federal and state governments combined.
• Overall, private industries account for 85% of the U.S. non-farm workforce, with nearly 136 million employees.