Top 30 US employers worldwide 2020

With hundreds of thousands and even millions of employees worldwide, many American companies are among the world’s largest private employers. And that is no surprise since many US companies are in the world’s largest, and require a lot of staff to deliver products and services to their customers.

Since many US companies are among the world’s top largest companies, many of these companies are also consequently within the world’s largest non-governmental employers. The number of employees is however not always correlated with the company’s income, and thus its net profit and market valuation, as there are great disparities between industries.

Many industries require a lot of unskilled workforces which generate only a little income per worker, while other industries may be much smaller but foster the growth of larger companies with large headcounts of skilled employees. Certain industries are thus very present in the top employers even though the companies themselves may not be as valuable, in terms of market capitalization as other members of this list.

This list of top US employers does prove that the retail industry, especially, requires massive numbers of employees. The American leader in the retail industry alone, Walmart, has more than 2.2 million employees, and numerous other retail companies have several hundreds of thousands of employees on their payroll.

Besides, we can also remark that a number of other industries are especially present in the US top employers. Within these industries that require lots of customer-facing employees, we can notably find package delivery, banking, restaurants, as well as IT services, even though large portions of their staff may be remote and located outside the US, particularly in India.

Since most of these companies have a global presence, they also have a significant part of their staff outside the US. Anyway, for professionals in search of a new job in the US or abroad, or business leaders looking for information about what their largest partners or competitors are doing, knowing what the largest US employers are up to can bring a lot of unsuspected benefits.

For more information on the largest American companies, download our S&P 500 companies Excel file containing the complete list of the 500 largest publicly listed companies in the US, together with extensive business, market, financial, and digital information on each company. For even more data on the largest US companies, download our Excel files on the Russell 1000 companies, Russell 2000 companies, or Russell 3000 companies.

Download the S&P 500 companies Excel Download the Russell 3000 companies Excel

List of the top 30 largest American employers globally by number of employees

To give you more perspective on the largest US-based companies employing the most people, details about the thirty largest public companies that count the largest number of employees globally have been listed hereafter. Each company is detailed with presentations of its sector, industry, its number of total, worldwide, full-time employees, activities, market capitalization, a direct link to its website, logo, and stock symbol.

Remark that we have left two companies out of this top for technical reasons. One is Accenture: even though it is originally from the US and has a global headcount of more than 500,000, its headquarters is now located in Dublin, Ireland, making it an Ireland-based company.

The other company that we left out of this list is Yum China, even though this company is headquartered in the US and counts more than 450,000 employees. The vast majority of its activities is located in China, and the company operational headquarter is located in Shanghai, China. The American citizenship of Yum China being primarily administrative, it has thus not been included hereafter.

Finally, note that this list only includes companies: no public service or government agency was included, even though some of them might employ large workforces.

For more information on other world-leading companies, check our series of posts on Top Companies, and for more information on the country, read our articles on Top Business Resources for the US.

Shortcuts to each employer

To facilitate your browsing in this long list, here are quick links to go directly to the details of any of the top 30 American employers worldwide. Be sure to also check the Top 10 global US employers’ summary after the list!

30. McDonald’s

Sector: Consumer Cyclical – Industry: Restaurants

Employees: 205,000

Founded in 1940 as a restaurant, McDonald’s has evolved to become a leading fast-food franchise. As of 2016, McDonald’s was the world’s largest restaurant chain by revenue, serving over 69 million customers daily in more than 36,900 outlets, located in more than 100 countries.

Website: corporate.mcdonalds.com – Market Cap.: $ 158.2 Billion – Stock Symbol: MCD

29. General Electric

Sector: Industrials – Industry: Specialty Industrial Machinery

Employees: 205,000

General Electric Company, more simply known as GE, is a multinational company primarily involved in engineering and machinery. Tracing its origins to 1889 with the foundation of the Edison Lamp Company by Thomas Edison, GE has grown and acquired engineering companies in a number of industries, including aviation, power generation, nuclear energy, renewable energy, and expanded into finance and asset management.

Website: ge.com – Market Cap.: $65.9 Billion – Stock symbol: GE

28. Citigroup

Sector: Financials – Industry: Diversified Banks

Employees: 209,000

Citigroup Inc., also known as Citi, is a multinational investment bank and financial services company headquartered in New York City. Tracing its origins to 1812, Citigroup operates through multiple subsidiaries in more than 160 countries. It operates in global markets with capital origination, corporate and investment banking, markets and securities services, private bank, and treasury and trade solutions, as well as in retail banking through Citibank, branded cards, retail services, commercial banking, and mortgages.

Website: citigroup.com – Market Cap.: $87.9 Billion – Stock symbol: C

27. HCA Healthcare

Sector: Healthcare – Industry: Medical Care Facilities

Employees: 210,000

HCA Healthcare is a company operating hospitals and health care facilities in the United States and the United Kingdom. Owning and managing more than 180 hospitals and 2,000 health care facilities, such as surgery centers, freestanding emergency rooms, urgent care centers, and physician clinics, HCA Healthcare is also involved in clinical research and has been named one of the world’s most ethical companies.

Website: hcahealthcare.com – Market Cap.: $44.2 Billion – Stock symbol: HCA

26. Bank of America

Sector: Financials – Industry: Diversified Banks

Employees: 211,000

The Bank of America Corporation, abbreviated as BofA, is a multinational investment bank and financial services company headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina. Tracing its origins to 1784, Bank of America has become an American leader in consumer banking with more than 4,600 branches and 15,900 ATMs. Bank of America also operates in corporate and investment banking, wealth management, and investment management.

Website: bankofamerica.com – Market Cap.: $208.6 Billion – Stock symbol: BAC

25. Walgreens Boots Alliance

Sector: Healthcare – Industry: Pharmaceutical Retailers

Employees: 223,000

Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc. is a holding company that owns Walgreens, Boots, and a number of pharmaceutical manufacturing, wholesale, and distribution companies. It operates in 25 countries through three divisions: retail pharmacy USA (Walgreens), retail pharmacy international (Boots and other retail operations internationally), and pharmaceutical wholesale (Alliance Healthcare).

Website: walgreensbootsalliance.com – Market Cap.: $31.0 Billion – Stock symbol: WBA

24. Disney

Sector: Communication Services – Industry: Entertainment

Employees: 223,000

Founded in 1923, the Walt Disney Company, commonly known as Disney, is a diversified multinational mass media and entertainment conglomerate. It is notably involved in film studios through Walt Disney Studios and 21st Century Fox. Other main divisions include Walt Disney parks, experiences and consumer products, Disney Media Networks which owns and operates cable television networks (ABC broadcast network, Disney Channel, ESPN, A&E Networks and Freeform) and the new Disney+ video-on-demand service, notably launched to develop new ways to monetize the company’s content and compete against Netflix, and other VOD services.

Website: thewaltdisneycompany.com – Market Cap.: $217.1 Billion – Stock symbol: DIS

23. AT&T

Sector: Communication Services – Industry: Telecom Services

Employees: 234,630

AT&T Inc. is a multinational conglomerate holding company. Tracing its origins to 1877, AT&T is engaged in telecommunications, it operates mobile and fixed telephone services in the United States through AT&T Communications. It is also the parent company of mass media conglomerate WarnerMedia, one of the world’s largest media and entertainment companies.

Website: about.att.com – Market Cap.: $194.8 Billion – Stock symbol: T

22. Jabil

Sector: Technology – Industry: Electronic Components

Employees: 240,000

Jabil Inc. is a global manufacturing services company. Primarily engaged in design engineering, manufacturing, and supply chain services, and materials technology services for a number of industries, including healthcare, life sciences, clean technology, instrumentation, defense, aerospace, automotive, computing, storage, consumer products, networking, and telecommunications, Jabil operates more than 100 plants in 30 countries directly or through local subsidiaries.

Website: jabil.com – Market Cap.: $5.1 Billion – Stock symbol: JBL

21. Raytheon Technologies

Sector: Industrials – Industry: Aerospace & Defense

Employees: 243,200

Raytheon Technologies Corporation is a multinational conglomerate primarily involved in the aerospace and defense industry. It is engaged in the research, development, and manufacturing of aircraft engines, avionics, aerostructures, cybersecurity, missiles, air defense systems, and drones, and provides associated engineering solutions for both commercial applications and defense.

Website: rtx.com – Market Cap.: $84.7 Billion – Stock symbol: RTX

20. Synnex

Sector: Technology – Industry: Information Technology Services

Employees: 252,000

Synnex Corporation is a multinational company specialized in business process and IT services. Dedicated to IT systems and equipment manufacturers, software publishers, and reselling customers, Synnex distributes more than 30,000 technology products, together with solutions for 20,000 resellers and retail customers in the US, Canada, and Japan. Through its Concentrix subsidiary, Synnex also delivers business process outsourcing services in more than 40 countries.

Website: synnexcorp.com – Market Cap.: $7.1 Billion – Stock symbol: SNX

19. JPMorgan Chase

Sector: Financials – Industry: Diversified Banks

Employees: 256,358

JPMorgan Chase & Co. is a multinational investment bank and financial services company headquartered in New York City. With origins dating back to 1799, JPMorgan Chase has become one of the world’s largest universal bank operating worldwide. It is involved in retail and commercial as well as in investment banking, asset management, private banking, private wealth management, and treasury services.

Website: jpmorganchase.com – Market Cap.: $305.6 Billion – Stock symbol: JPM

18. UPS

Sector: Industrials – Industry: Integrated Freight & Logistics

Employees: 260,280

United Parcel Service, better known as UPS, is a multinational package delivery and supply chain management company. Tracing its origins to 1907, UPS has expanded to deliver packages in the entire US and internationally, together with supply chain and air freight services with UPS Airlines, trucks with UPS Freight, and drones with UPS Flight Forward.

Website: ups.com – Market Cap.: $137.9 Billion – Stock symbol: UPS

17. PepsiCo

Sector: Consumer Defensive – Industry: Non-Alcoholic Beverages

Employees: 267,000

PepsiCo, Inc. is a multinational food, snack, and beverage corporation. Tracing its origins to the creation of Pepsi-Cola in 1898, PepsiCo has become one the largest food and drink company through the acquisition and development of new brands and products. Its portfolio of brands includes Pepsi, Tropicana Products, Quaker Oats Company, and Gatorade.

Website: pepsico.com – Market Cap.: $186.8 Billion – Stock symbol: PEP

16. Albertsons

Sector: Consumer Defensive – Industry: Grocery Stores

Employees: 270,000

Albertsons Companies, Inc. is a retail company operating a number of supermarkets and grocery stores. Founded in 1939, it now manages more than 2,200 stores through a number of brands including Safeway, Albertsons, Acme Markets, Jewel-Osco, Shaw’s, Vons, and many more. Besides, Albertsons also owns a number of private-label brands for products in fresh and frozen food, soft drinks, decoration, hygiene, pet food, value-priced items, and more.

Website: albertsonscompanies.com – Market Cap.: $6.9 Billion – Stock symbol: ACI

15. Wells Fargo

Sector: Financials – Industry: Diversified Banks

Employees: 274,900

Tracing its origins to 1852, Wells Fargo & Company is a multinational financial services company headquartered in San Francisco, California and incorporated in Delaware, and present in more than 35 countries. The company is engaged in three main lines of business: community banking, wholesale banking, and wealth, brokerage, and retirement. Wells Fargo’s main subsidiary, Wells Fargo Bank operates more than 8,000 branches and 13,000 ATMs.

Website: wellsfargo.com – Market Cap.: $90.5 Billion – Stock symbol: WFC

14. Cognizant

Sector: Technology – Industry: Information Technology Services

Employees: 283,100

Cognizant is a multinational IT services company. It provides information technology, information security, IT and business process outsourcing services, and consulting through three key operating segments: digital business, digital operations, and digital systems & technology.  Operating across the US, Europe, and South America, Cognizant also relies on more than 150,000 remote staff in India.

Website: cognizant.com – Market Cap.: $37.9 Billion – Stock symbol: CTSH

13. TJX Companies

Sector: Consumer Cyclical – Industry: Apparel Retail

Employees: 286,000

The TJX Companies, Inc. is a multinational company operating chains of discount department stores. Present throughout the United States, Canada, and Europe, it sells a number of articles of clothing, footwear, bedding and furniture, food, jewelry and beauty products, and housewares through its flagship brands TJ Maxx, in the US, and TK Maxx in Europe, as well as Marshalls, HomeGoods, HomeSense, Sierra, and Winners.

Website: tjx.com – Market Cap.: $62.0 Billion – Stock symbol: TJX

12. CVS Health

Sector: Healthcare – Industry: Healthcare Plans

Employees: 290,000

CVS Health is a healthcare company primarily operating in pharmacy retail, drug prescription benefits, health insurance, medical facilities, and services. The company’s flagship business and brand, CVS Pharmacy, manages more than 9,000 stores across the US. Other key businesses include CVS Caremark which provides prescription benefit management services, CVS Specialty, a chronic and genetic therapy pharmacy division, and the retail medical clinic MinuteClinic.

Website: cvshealth.com – Market Cap.: $76.0 Billion – Stock symbol: CVS

11. Lowe’s

Sector: Consumer Cyclical – Industry: Home Improvement Retail

Employees: 300,000

Lowe’s Companies, Inc. is a retail company specializing in home improvement. With more than 2,200 stores throughout the United States and Canada, Tracing its origins to 1921, Lowe’s has grown to sell a wide range of hardware and construction materials, home and garden equipment, furniture, and tools. Thanks to its digital platform and online marketing, Lowe’s is also one of the top e-commerce sites in the US.

Website: lowes.com – Market Cap.: $121.1 Billion – Stock symbol: LOW

10. FedEx

Sector: Industrials – Industry: Integrated Freight & Logistics

Employees: 324,000

FedEx Corporation is a multinational delivery services company. A contraction of the former “Federal Express” brand name, FedEx provides overnight courier service, ground and air freight, logistics services, office services, and various other associated services in the United States, Canada, and the Caribbean region.

Website: fedex.com – Market Cap.: $70.1 Billion – Stock symbol: FDX

9. UnitedHealth Group

Sector: Healthcare – Industry: Healthcare Plans

Employees: 325,000

UnitedHealth Group is the largest healthcare company in the world by revenue, offering diversified health care products and insurance services. It serves clients through two distinct platforms: UnitedHealthcare which provides health care coverage and benefits services, and Optum which provides information and technology-enabled health services.

Website: unitedhealthgroup.com – Market Cap.: $296.6 Billion – Stock symbol: UNH

8. Starbucks

Sector: Consumer Cyclical – Industry: Restaurants

Employees: 346,000

Starbucks Corporation is a multinational coffee company and coffeehouse chain. It serves a range of hot and cold drinks, coffees, teas, fresh juices, and other beverages together with a selection of snacks, pre-packaged food items, hot and cold sandwiches, and drinkware. Starbucks has diversified in venues proposing alcoholic beverages in “Starbucks Evenings” locations, and coffee, ice-cream, and bottled drinks sold in grocery stores under the Starbucks brand.

Website: Starbucks.com – Market Cap.: $100.5 Billion – Stock symbol: SBUX

7. IBM

Sector: Technology – Industry: Information Technology Services

Employees: 352,600

Founded in 1911, the International Business Machines Corporation, better known as IBM, is a multinational information technology company operating in more than 170 countries. Manufacturing and marketing computer hardware, middleware, and software and providing hosting and consulting services, IBM is also a major technology research organization.

Website: ibm.com – Market Cap.: $100.6 Billion – Stock symbol: IBM

6. Target

Sector: Consumer Defensive – Industry: Discount Stores

Employees: 368,000

Target Corporation is a retail company operating discount stores, hypermarkets, and small local stores. Founded in 1902, Target has expanded to now operate more than 1,900 stores across the US, together with financial and retail services, sourcing services, and a number of private-label brands in grocery, food and beverage, pet food, furniture, bedding, and home products, and many more.

Website: corporate.target.com – Market Cap.: $77.3 Billion – Stock symbol: TGT

5. Berkshire Hathaway

Sector: Financials – Industry: Multi-Sector Holdings

Employees: 391,500

Berkshire Hathaway Inc. is a multinational conglomerate holding company. It wholly owns GEICO, Duracell, Dairy Queen, BNSF, Lubrizol, Fruit of the Loom, Helzberg Diamonds, Long & Foster, FlightSafety International, Pampered Chef, and NetJets, and also has significant shares of Pilot Flying J, Kraft Heinz Company, American Express, Wells Fargo, The Coca-Cola Company, Bank of America, Apple, United Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Southwest Airlines and American Airlines. Berkshire Hathaway also acquired a number of smaller companies in a wide variety of industries, including confectionery, retail, railroads, home furnishings, encyclopedias, manufacturers of vacuum cleaners, jewelry sales, newspaper publishing, manufacture and distribution of uniforms, and several regional electric and gas utilities.

Website: berkshirehathaway.com – Market Cap.: $487.9 Billion – Stock symbol: BRK.B

4. Home Depot

Sector: Consumer Cyclical – Industry: Home Improvement Retail

Employees: 400,000

The Home Depot Inc. is a retailing company that sells tools, home improvement supplies, construction products, and services. Home Depot is the largest home improvement retailer in the United States, also operating in Canada and Mexico.

Website: homedepot.com – Market Cap.: $291.4 Billion – Stock symbol: HD

3. Kroger

Sector: Consumer Defensive – Industry: Grocery Stores

Employees: 500,000

The Kroger Company is a diversified retail company. Founded in 1883, Kroger owns and manages more than 2,900 hypermarkets, superstores, fuel centers, pharmacies, and jewelry stores across the US, as well as 35 dairy,  bakery, and grocery manufacturing plants. Kroger operates through a number of retail chains, including the flagship brand Kroger, as well as Fred Meyer, Fry’s, Smith’s, King Soopers, The Little Clinic, Roundy’s, Ruler Foods, and many more.

Website: thekrogerco.com – Market Cap.: $24.8 Billion – Stock symbol: KR

2. Amazon

Sector: Consumer Cyclical – Industry: Internet Retail

Employees: 1,125,300

Amazon.com, Inc. is a multinational technology company focused on e-commerce, cloud computing, digital streaming, and artificial intelligence. It started as an online bookstore that later diversified to a wide array of products. Amazon has become the uncontested leader of e-commerce in the US, and after having expanded to many countries, it has also developed further into brick-and-mortar retail with the acquisition of Whole Foods Market, as well as publishing, electronics, cloud computing, video streaming, and production, among other investments.

Website: amazon.com – Market Cap.: $1.508 Trillion – Stock symbol: AMZN

1. Walmart

Sector: Consumer Defensive – Industry: Discount Stores

Employees: 2,200,000

Walmart Inc. is a multinational retail corporation operating a chain of hypermarkets, discount department stores, and grocery stores. Walmart is the world’s largest company by revenue, employing more than 2.3 million people in 28 countries.

Website: walmart.com – Market Cap.: $397.9 Billion – Stock symbol: WMT

Summary: Top 10 US Employers Worldwide 2020

To give you a quick overview of the largest US-based employers globally in 2020, here is a synthesizing image regrouping the information of the top 10. Note that you can use this image to embed it on your website and other digital properties using the embed code below.

Embed code:

<a href="https://blog.disfold.com/top-us-employers/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><img src="https://blog.disfold.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/top-10-US-employers.jpg" alt="Top 10 US Employers Worldwide 2020"></a>

Here are the 30 largest US employers in the world. Do you think they should hire more people or reduce their headcount? Should they focus on the United States or expand globally? Do these large numbers of employees give them too much power… or maybe too much responsibility?

Leave your comments below!