Which Company Employs the Most Workers in America? Here's What the Data Reveals

When asking which company has the most employees, the answer becomes clear once you examine the employment landscape across the United States. The retail giant Walmart stands as the world’s largest private employer, with 2.3 million workers on its payroll globally. This figure dwarfs the employment base of entire nations—the combined workforce of Walmart and Amazon (1.3 million employees) exceeds the total populations of Uruguay, Mongolia, and Albania combined.

In terms of revenue, Walmart generates over $570 billion annually, while Amazon trails closely with $470 billion per year. Yet when examining which company has the most employees within individual states, the picture becomes far more nuanced. The distribution of America’s largest employers reveals surprising regional variations and industry concentrations that reflect local economic structures.

State-by-State Employment Leaders: A Deeper Look

A comprehensive analysis of Dun & Bradstreet’s 2021 Business Rankings examined which company has the most employees as the primary regional employer in each state, based on in-state workforce size. Walmart dominates as the largest employer in 22 states but maintains its headquarters in Arkansas, where it employs 11,700 workers at its Bentonville base (with 2.2 million globally).

The employment data reveals stark contrasts across regions:

Healthcare and Research Dominate Multiple States: Twelve states list medical, scientific, or research organizations as their largest employers. These sectors demand substantial staffing to ensure continuous operations and round-the-clock care provision.

Tourism-Dependent Regions Follow Different Patterns: In Hawaii and Nevada, the hospitality industry reigns supreme as the largest employment sector, with Kyo-Ya Hotels & Resorts and Station Voteco leading their respective state employment rankings.

Largest In-State Workforces: Albertsons Companies operates Idaho’s largest regional workforce with 270,000 employees, significantly surpassing other state-based operations. In contrast, AES Marine Support Services LLC in Alaska represents the smallest regional leader with just 1,812 employees.

Regional Employment Distribution Across 50 States

The comprehensive state-by-state breakdown includes:

Northeast Region: Connecticut leads with CCO Holdings Capital Corp. (Cable television services, 96,100 employees), while Massachusetts follows with Austin Holdco Inc. (Computer programming, 22,830 employees).

Southeast Variations: North Carolina’s Rich Square Logistics LLC commands 200,000 workers in freight and transportation, making it among the nation’s largest employers in a single state. Texas’s healthcare sector leads with Kentucky Homecare Holdings Inc. (85,300 employees), while Florida’s security services through ADT Holdings employ 16,000 workers.

Midwest Industrial Base: Michigan’s auto industry remains robust through FCA US LLC (77,817 employees), reflecting the region’s manufacturing heritage. Missouri’s O’Reilly Auto Enterprises employs 50,000 across auto supply retail.

Western Opportunities: Nike’s Oregon headquarters employs 12,600 locally (75,400 globally), while Colorado and Washington feature diversified sectors spanning emergency medical services and telecommunications.

Industry Clustering and Employment Trends

The data reveals distinct industry patterns. Retail and grocery chains form clusters in multiple states, though manufacturing, healthcare, and technology services show increasing prominence. Energy sectors dominate in Alaska and New Mexico, while logistics and transportation have emerged as major regional employment drivers, particularly in North Carolina.

Navigating the Job Market

For job seekers concerned about economic headwinds from inflation and rising interest rates, examining which company has the most employees in your home state offers strategic insight. The largest regional employers often indicate stable opportunities aligned with local economic strengths. Those with relevant industry experience should investigate whether these regional giants offer career advancement opportunities.

The variation in which company has the most employees across states demonstrates that employment opportunities remain closely tied to regional industries and local economic development. Rather than a single national story, America’s employment landscape reflects 50 distinct regional economies, each with unique strengths and dominant employers shaping workforce dynamics.