Cambridge Business and Labor Force Data

The 2010 Cambridge Statistical Profile provides information about the labor force, employment by industry and occupation, unemployment and underemployment, the size of the workforce, employment by sector, and average and median wages.

Note that data found in the following tables comes from a variety of sources. Data sets that do not share the same source should not be compared or compared with caution due to differing data collection techniques.

Biotechnology, High Tech and Clean Energy Companies

The Economic Development Division maintains a listing and map of Cambridge companies working in the life sciences, high tech, and clean energy sectors. The listing is not intended as a comprehensive source for businesses information. The data is sourced from news items, real estate industry market reports and industry associations, such as MassBIO and New England Clean Energy Council. 

Business District Customer Intercept Surveys

Every year the Economic Development Division undertakes a customer intercept survey in one of the City's business districts. In 2018 the survey format changed, so more recent data are collected in a separate table:

To learn more about a specific customer intercept survey visit the the Commercial Districts pages.

Business Diversity Directory

The Cambridge Business Diversity Directory lists local businesses and entities owned by women or minorities, including people of color, LGBTQ+ owners, veterans, persons with disabilities, and business owners of Portuguese decent. These categories align with the Massachusetts Supplier Diversity Office, which certifies diverse businesses in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Businesses and entities do not need to be state certified to be listed in the Cambridge Business Diversity Directory. The Cambridge Business Diversity Directory now non-profit entities offering goods and services for a fee to the public.  The Directory membership list is available as open data.  A data portal app is forthcoming

Economic Census of Businesses

Every fifth year the U. S. Census Bureau conducts the Economic Census of the United States, which collects detailed data on Cambridge businesses. Source: U. S. Census Bureau.

Labor Force Size and Unemployment Rate

Information about Cambridge residents who work, regardless of the location of their place of employment. Source: Massachusetts Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development.

Non-Profit Corporations

Organizations qualify as non-profits if they have IRS recognition of tax-exempt status. Certain types of public charities, such as churches and organizations with less than $5,000 in gross receipts, are not required to file for official 501(c)(3) status.  Source: IRS data recompiled and released by the National Center for Charitable Statistics Data Archive.

Top 25 Employers

Information about larger employers in Cambridge. The most recent table includes links to the employment web sites of these organizations. Source: Cambridge Community Development Department.

Worker Visas

Employers seeking to employee foreign nationals who do not already hold a visa allowing them to work in the United States have several options for gaining legal status for such employees.  Two of the most commonly used by Cambridge employers are the H1-B program, including the H-1B and E-3 visa categories, and the PERM program. This data set and accompanying dashboard provide access to data for approved or certified applications under both programs.  Source: United States Department of Labor Office of Foreign Labor Certification (OFLC) Program Performance Data.

Workforce

Information about all those who work in Cambridge, regardless of place of residence. Source: Massachusetts Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development.

For More Information

For more information about socioeconomic and demographic statistics about Cambridge, please contact Cliff Cook, ccook@cambridgema.gov, Senior Planning Information Manager, at 617/349-4656.