US Jobs in Four Economic Sectors 1960-2020

The line graph Suggested change: shows changes in job numbersshows changes in job numbers1illustrates the changes in the number of jobs across four economic sectors in the US from 1960 to 2020.

Overall, healthcare and retail experienced continuous growth, with healthcare emerging as Suggested change: a joint-largest employera joint-largest employer2the largest employer by the end of the period. Conversely, employment in agriculture saw Suggested change: an overall declinean overall decline3a consistent decline, while manufacturing jobs Suggested change: rose and then fellrose and then fell4fluctuated, peaking mid-period before falling.

In 1960, manufacturing was the dominant sector, Suggested change: providing 15 million jobsproviding 15 million jobs5employing 15 million people. This figure peaked at 20 million in 1980, but then dropped steadily over the next forty years to finish at approximately 13 million in 2020. In stark contrast, agriculture started at around 6 million jobs in 1960 and experienced Suggested change: an overall downward trendan overall downward trend6a downward trend throughout the entire period, shrinking to Suggested change: about 2 millionabout 2 million7just under 2 million by 2020.

Regarding the growing sectors, healthcare began with the lowest figures, at only 2 million jobs in 1960. However, it witnessed a significant and uninterrupted rise, reaching 11 million in 2000 and eventually catching up with retail at 16 million in 2020. Retail employment also grew steadily from 6 million at the start of the period to 15 million in 2000, before Suggested change: growing more slowlygrowing more slowly8experiencing a slower growth rate to end at 16 million in 2020. Notably, Suggested change: by 2020by 20209by the end of the 60-year period, both healthcare and retail had surpassed manufacturing to become Suggested change: the two largest sectors by job numbersthe two largest sectors by job numbers10the top employment sectors.