11 Companies With The Most Employees In The US

The 11 companies with the most employees in the US provide paychecks to millions of people each week (well, the ones that pay weekly), even if some of those paychecks aren’t always appreciated by the general populace.

The US unemployment rate hit a 16-year low of 4.3% earlier this year before ticking up slightly to 4.4% in June. Despite the uptick, jobs growth was strong in June, with 222,000 jobs being created, well ahead of estimates. Indeed, the unemployment rate only rose because new employment seekers outpaced the jobs growth, not because jobs declined.

However, wage growth has remained relatively stagnant, which is often cited in any discussion about America’s eroded middle class. That’s come as somewhat of a surprise to economists, who believe that wage growth should be accelerating with unemployment so low, as there’s more competition for workers.

However, it’s possible that unemployment is not the best benchmark to use to determine expected wage growth. Underemployment actually appears to be the more telling statistic, as it represents the likelihood of an employer finding a qualified worker for a full-time position. And by that metric, it’s not surprising that wage growth isn’t going anywhere, as underemployment stood at 14% in April, up from less than 13% late last year.

If we look at US employment by state, we see some interesting trends. Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. (NYSE:WMT) dominates many of the southern states, ranking as the largest employer in 19 states overall. It’s also the only company that is the largest employer in more than one state. Boeing Co (NYSE:BA) is the top employer in Washington state, while Intel Corporation (NASDAQ:INTC) is the biggest in Oregon. Universities or healthcare companies are the largest employers in many of the remaining states, save for Nevada, which of course is led by a casino company (MGM Resorts International (NYSE:MGM)).

For our list of the 11 companies with the most employees in the US, we’ve used data on the world’s largest employers, restricting that list to US companies, which are most likely to have a sizable percentage of their operations in the US. While it isn’t ideal, comprehensive statistics for US-specific employment by company are not readily available. However, we have included that data where possible.

For a look at companies which may be more stable employers, don’t miss our list of the 10 Most Stable Companies In The US. Now then, head to the next page to begin the list of the 11 companies with the most employees in the US.

11. AT&T Inc. (NYSE:T)

– 264,000 global employees

First up is AT&T Inc. (NYSE:T), which employs 264,000 people globally as of the first quarter of this year, which includes 12,000 veterans. The company is currently launching reorganization efforts ahead of its purchase of Time Warner, should that merger be approved. AT&T is currently embroiled in a contract dispute with Communications Workers of America, a union which represents 17,000 of the company’s employees.

10. General Electric (NYSE:GE)

– 295,000 global employees (104,000 in the US)

General Electric (NYSE:GE) is still one of the top employers in the US, though the size of its US and global workforce was slashed in 2016, partly due to the sale of GE Appliances, which employed 12,000 people, to Haier at the beginning of last year. GE’s US workforce has fallen to 104,000 last year from 136,000 in 2014, during which time it’s added about 22,000 jobs outside the US.

9. Target Corporation (NYSE:TGT)

– 341,000 global employees

Target Corporation (NYSE:TGT) is next on the list of the 11 companies with the most employees in the US, where the vast majority of its global workforce is (it has a small presence in India). Its foray into Canada, where it had 17,600 employees in 2015 was a disaster, with the subsidiary filing for bankruptcy after just two years in the country. Target is now trapped between a rock (Amazon) and a hard place (Walmart) as it battles to find its niche in the rapidly evolving retail landscape.

8. Berkshire Hathaway Inc. (NYSE:BRK.A)

– 367,000 global employees

Warren Buffett‘s holding company Berkshire Hathaway Inc. (NYSE:BRK.A) has a number of subsidiaries, including GEICO and Dairy Queen, which employ over 365,000 people globally. Berkshire is attempting to add Oncor Electric Delivery and its 3,600 employees into its fold, but is facing stiff resistance from Paul Singer‘s Elliott Management, which appears set to outbid Berkshire for ownership of the company.

7. International Business Machines Corp. (NYSE:IBM)

– 377,000 global employees (92,000 in the US)

International Business Machines Corp. (NYSE:IBM) is a major employer globally, though its US workforce is not nearly as strong, at just 92,000. After being one of the first companies to embrace having a mobile workforce, IBM shifted course earlier this year, with plans to have employees do more work at the office, which the company’s execs believe will better foster innovation.

6. Home Depot Inc. (NYSE:HD)

– 385,000 global employees

Despite the addition of self-checkouts to many of its stores, Home Depot Inc. (NYSE:HD) still ranks as one of the top employers in the US, with 385,000 employees globally. The company was also planning on hiring as many as 80,000 people this spring, though the positions were slated to be temporary with the possibility of some of them leading to permanent employment.

5. McDonald’s Corporation (NYSE:MCD)

– 420,000 global employees (300,000 in the US)

McDonald’s Corporation (NYSE:MCD) officially employs just 420,000 people, as it doesn’t count people who work for franchises as its own employees. However, the reality is that about 1.9 million people work at McDonald’s, making it the second-largest private employer globally. In an effort to reach more millenials, McDonald’s Corporation (NYSE:MCD) is now accepting applications via Snapchat. The company anticipated hiring 250,000 people this summer.

4. The Kroger Company (NYSE:KR)

– 431,000 global employees (all of which are in the US)

The Kroger Company (NYSE:KR), which we ranked as the third-best grocery store in America, is also one of the country’s biggest employers, with 431,000 workers as of 2016, and with plans to hire another 10,000 this year. Kroger operates numerous chains, including Ralphs, Fred Meyer, Dillons, Smith’s, King Soopers, Harris Teeter, and Food 4 Less.

3. United Parcel Service, Inc. (NYSE:UPS)

– 444,000 employees globally (362,000 in the US)

United Parcel Service, Inc. (NYSE:UPS) ranks as one of the largest private employers in the US, though it is outdone by the government-run United States Postal Service, which employs about 557,000 people. Huge growth in e-commerce deliveries led to a big second-quarter for UPS, with revenue up 8% quarter-over-quarter, and EPS up by 11%. That prompted Teamsters Local 2727 to urge UPS for a “fair contract” for the 1,200 aircraft mechanics that it represents, which are embroiled in a contract dispute with the company.

2. Yum! Brands, Inc. (NYSE:YUM)

– 1.5 million employees globally (900,000 in the US as of 2013)

Along with its subsidiaries Pizza Hut, Kentucky Fried Chicken, and Taco Bell, Yum! Brands, Inc. (NYSE:YUM) employs 1.5 million people around the globe. The company operates 43,500 restaurants, 18,110 of which are located in the US. It was reported that the company employed 900,000 in the country as of 2013.

1. Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. (NYSE:WMT)

– 2.3 million employees globally (1.4 million in the US)

Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. (NYSE:WMT) easily tops the list of the 11 companies with the most employees in the US, with a staggering 1.4 million in the US (about 1% of the entire US workforce) and 2.3 million globally. Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. (NYSE:WMT) has been heavily criticized for its wages in the past, which has been slightly alleviated following recent hikes to the minimum wage paid to its employees. The company is currently working to expand its online delivery platform, including offering free two-day shipping without a membership, which has created yet more jobs at the company.

Disclosure: None