The United States has an expansive and varied economy with a plethora of job opportunities. So, which is the biggest job industry in the US? According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), healthcare and social assistance has the greatest number of wage and salary jobs, with over 20 million jobs. Retail trade follows closely with over 17 million jobs, and professional and business services has nearly 14 million jobs. On the other hand, the US Census Bureau measures total employment, which includes self-employed, unpaid family workers, and agricultural workers. Here, the largest job industry is retail trade with over 23 million jobs, followed by healthcare and social assistance with over 19 million jobs, and professional and business services with over 15 million jobs.
It is essential to consider more than just the size of an industry when assessing its impact on the US economy. The quality of the jobs in an industry is also crucial. For example, jobs in healthcare and social assistance are usually higher paying and more secure than retail trade jobs. Plus, some industries, such as professional and business services, are growing much faster than retail trade due to the growth of the technology sector.
In summary, healthcare and social assistance and retail trade are the two largest job industries in the US, but they are not the only important ones. Other industries, such as professional and business services, manufacturing, and construction, are also essential to the US economy. So, it is essential to consider the quality of jobs, as well as the rate of growth, when evaluating the impact of an industry on the US economy.
