The line graph illustrates changes in the proportion of workers employed in three sectors – agriculture, manufacturing and services – in the USA from 1875 to 2025.
Overall, employment patterns in the USA changed dramatically over the period. The proportion of workers in agriculture declined substantially, while the services sector experienced a sharp and continuous rise, eventually becoming the dominant form of employment. Manufacturing, by contrast, increased during the early years before gradually decreasing towards the end of the period.
In 1875, agriculture accounted for the vast majority of employment, with approximately 80% of the workforce engaged in this sector. However, this figure fell steadily over time, dropping to around 58% in 1925 and then declining more rapidly to about 25% by 1950. The downward trend continued in the following decades, reaching roughly 3% by 2025, making it the least common occupation.
Manufacturing initially represented a relatively small share of employment, standing at around 10% in 1875. Nevertheless, the proportion rose significantly during the first half of the 20th century and peaked at just over 50% in 1950. After this point, the figure gradually decreased, falling to approximately 18% in 1975 and eventually reaching about 11% by 2025.
In contrast, employment in services remained relatively low until the mid-20th century, fluctuating around 10-12% between 1875 and 1925. However, it then increased dramatically, surpassing both agriculture and manufacturing to reach around 72% in 1975. This upward trend continued, with the sector accounting for roughly 86% of the workforce by 2025.