NEW BEDFORD — The city's top 10 private employers include companies in health care, manufacturing, clothing, food, printing, banking and transportation.

The city's 2024 annual budget report says, outside the city's maritime industry, New Bedford has 3,700 businesses supporting more than 46,000 jobs.

The city has a total of 43,946 employed residents, and 4,550 unemployed residents, according to the budget report.

Companies asked to provide employment numbers

The report also lists the top 10 private employers, using data from the state. The employment numbers are a little vague because they're broad.

For instance, they list all the companies ranked from three to 10 with a range of 250 - 499 employees.

The companies were asked to provide more specific numbers for this report, and most were able to provide them. They do vary somewhat from the official numbers.

Missing from the list was Servedwell Hospitality, though owner Steve Silverstein notes it employs 500 people in season, and 300 offseason in its restaurant-entertainment venues, which places it basically tied for fourth if averaged out to 400 employees.

The list does not include government employers.

City of New Bedford would top list

The city would top this list if it were included.

There are about 4,000 city employees, including the school department's 2,700, said New Bedford Public Information Officer Jonathan Darling.

The private-employer list is topped by Southcoast Health, which is also a leading regional employer, including St. Luke's Hospital in New Bedford, Charlton Memorial Hospital in Fall River and Tobey Hospital in Wareham.

Southcoast, Acushnet Co. also large regional employers

According to the Boston Business Journal, Southcoast Health's approximately 7,500 employees overall make it the largest employer in southeastern Massachusetts, as well as one of the state's largest employers.

Acushnet Co., which is number two on the New Bedford list, is also a leading regional employer.

The list has been put into numerical order here, from highest to lowest, using the additional information from the companies.

The list of New Bedford's top 10 private employers is:

1) South Coast Health Systems, health, St. Luke's Hospital, 101 Page St. and various, 1,000 – 2,500, (2,478 work at Southcoast Health locations in New Bedford; 1,572 Southcoast Health employees reside in New Bedford).

2) Acushnet Co., manufacturing, 700 Belleville Ave. and various, 500 - 999, (As of May 1, Acushnet Co. has a total of 1,923 associates in the Greater New Bedford area).

3) Tremblay's Bus Co., transportation, 284 Myrtle St., 250 – 499, (Tremblay's employs 407 people - 153 drivers, 153 monitors and 101 van drivers).

4) Sid Wainer & Son Specialty, specialty foods, 2301 Purchase St., 250 – 499, (all told including Foley Fish in New Bedford and Allen Bros. in Mattapoisett, both of which Wainer owns, they employ in the 500 range, 400 strictly in New Bedford).

5) Community Health Center, health, 874 Purchase St., 250 - 499, (almost 300).

6) Ahead LLC, apparel, 270 Samuel Barnet Blvd., 250 - 499, (240).

7) Joseph Abboud Manufacturing, manufacturing, 689 Belleville Ave., 250 - 499, (400, number came in after initial posting but puts Abboud in virtual tie for fourth).

8) Brittany Dyeing & Printing Co., printing, 1357 E. Rodney French Blvd., 250 - 499.

9) Sacred Heart Home, 359 Summer St., health, 250 - 499, (166).

10) Bristol County Savings Bank, 1307 Ashley Blvd. and various, banking, 250 - 499, (BCSB employs 337 in total throughout its regional network).

(Original story updated to include that while Servedwell Hospitality was not on the list provided by the state to the city, it employs 500 people in season, and 300 offseason.)

This article originally appeared on Standard-Times: New Bedford's top 10 private employers. Who made the list.