In Karnataka, the majority of Indians hold private sector jobs, while a smaller proportion work in public sector (government) roles.

Private vs Public Job Share

The formal employment (which includes most private sector jobs and excludes agricultural and government jobs) covers about 24.7% of Karnataka’s working population, far larger than the public sector share.As of September 2025, Karnataka has around 5.88 lakh government employees, including regular and contract staff.The cumulative number of formal (mostly private) sector employees on payroll is approximately 74 lakh, which means private jobs constitute the vast majority of formal workforce.

Public Sector Employment

The Karnataka government directly employs 5.88 lakh people, excluding temporary or outsourced positions.Approximately 16% of these are on contract, with the government facing pressure to fill about 2.84 lakh additional vacancies.

Private Sector Employment

Private sector jobs vastly outnumber public jobs, with 13.58 lakh formal jobs created annually on average in recent years, especially in IT, textiles, and manufacturing industries.

Karnataka’s private sector dominates formal job creation due to tech hubs (Bengaluru), industrial policies, and large investments in manufacturing and service sectors.The working population engaged in non-agriculture is about 1.59 crore most are in private sector roles.

Summary Table: Karnataka Jobs Distribution

Key Insights

Karnataka Jobs

Private jobs are predominantly higher than public jobs in Karnataka, reflecting the state’s robust tech and industrial landscape.The public sector, including state and central government jobs, forms only a small proportion of the workforce, while the private sector is expected to continue expanding rapidly with new policies targeting industrial growth and job creation.