The world's biggest employers
lovemoney staff
07 December 2021
The largest workforces on the planet
Ever wondered which companies and organisations employ the most people? From the world's biggest fast food chain to India's sprawling state railway, read on as we reveal the staggering sizes of the world's 30 biggest workforces. All dollar values in US dollars.
30. Aviation Industry Corp. of China: 407,344 employees
The Aviation Industry Corporation of China, or AVIC, is massive state-owned aerospace and defence company that develops aviation technology for China's military. It also produces aircraft and components for the commercial and overseas markets, supplying parts to the likes of Boeing, Airbus, and GE. ACIV employs around 407,344 employees around the world.
29. Egyptian Armed Forces: 438,500 employees
One of the largest military forces on the planet, the Egyptian Armed Forces consist of the country's Army, Navy, Air Force and Air Defence Command. The military is currently battling an insurgency on the Sinai Peninsula and counts a total of 438,500 active personnel, including around 300,000 conscripts.
28. Industrial & Commercial Bank of China: 439,787 employees
One of China's 'Big Four' government-owned banks, the Industrial & Commercial Bank of China is the world's largest bank and public company in terms of assets. According to Statista, it boasted a workforce of 439,787 employees in 2020. ICBC has 530 million personal customers worldwide and owns several foreign banks, including Standard Bank Argentina and Turkey's TekstilBank.
27. China Mobile Communications: 454,332 employees
Another Chinese state-owned enterprise with an enormous workforce, China Mobile Communications is the country's premier telecoms firm and the largest mobile phone operator on the globe. The company, which dominates the domestic market, has a total of 942 million mobile customers, 210 million broadband customers, and 454,332 employees.
26. Agricultural Bank of China: 459,000 employees
The Agricultural Bank of China is another of the country's 'Big Four' state-owned banks. The bank, which has a total of 2.7 million business clients and 320 million personal account holders, employed 459,000 people in 2020. It might sound a lot, but this was actually AgBank's smallest workforce in almost 10 years.
25. Jardine Matheson: 464,000 employees
This vast British conglomerate, which is based in Hong Kong, has a total of 464,000 staff. Jardine Matheson's many subsidiaries include the Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group, car dealership Jardine Motors, and Dairy Farm — a pan-Asian retailer that operates stores on behalf of IKEA, 7-Eleven, and more.
24. Kroger: 465,000 employees
With 465,000 employees, Kroger is America's largest supermarket chain and the third-largest retailer in the country after Walmart and Costco. The Cincinnati-headquartered chain operates 2,778 supermarkets and multi-department stores, 2,200 retail pharmacies, 786 convenience stores, and 326 jewellery boutiques across 38 states. However, it has zero international presence, making it largely unknown outside of the USA.
23. Gazprom: 477,600 employees
Gazprom is majority-owned by the Russian state and the country's largest employer. With a workforce of 477,600, the energy company controls the world's largest reserves of natural gas and holds a near-monopoly of exports of the commodity. Gazprom also has a strong international presence with additional interests in media, aviation and finance.
22. People's Army of Vietnam: 482,000 employees
A regional force to be reckoned with, the People's Army of Vietnam (PAVN) has 482,000 active personnel and a staggering three million reservists. The army recently underwent extensive modernisation to counter the potential threat posed by China in the South China Sea and now boasts some of the most sophisticated military hardware in the region.
21. Deutsche Post DHL Group: 550,000 employees
Europe's largest postal and international courier service has over half a million employees. The company's postal operation delivers 59 million letters a day in Germany and its shipping carrier DHL is one of the world's biggest. Deutsche Post DHL Group employs around 550,000 people in 220 different countries and territories around the world.
20. Compass Group: 548,254 employees
The UK's Compass Group is the largest food service company on the planet. The firm, which operates in over 50 countries worldwide, made UK headlines in January 2021 after a subsidiary company was criticised for providing inadequate food parcels to children during the coronavirus pandemic. It currently employs around 548,254 people around the world, including 270,168 in North America and 174,085 in Europe.
19. Republic of Korea Armed Forces: 555,000 employees
South Korea's armed forces total 555,000 active personnel and almost three million reserve troops. Given the hostile stance of its neighbour North Korea, the country has developed extra-robust defences and enjoys access to the latest military equipment courtesy of the US, its main ally.
18. Armed Forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran: 610,000 employees
Iran's armed forces include the Islamic Republic's Army, Revolutionary Guard Corps, and Law Enforcement Force (the country's police). In total, they employ around 610,000 active personnel and 350,000 reserves, making it the 8th largest military in the world.
17. United States Postal Service: 636,171 employees
The United States Postal Service (USPS) is the second largest employer in America. With 497,000 career employees and an additional 136,174 non-career employees, its total workforce numbers around 636,171. USPS is an independent agency of the federal government mandated by the Constitution and is legally required to deliver post at uniform cost to all Americans, no matter where they live in the country.
16. Volkswagen: 663,000 employees
The German car manufacturing company Volkswagen is the largest automaker in the world. It employs around 663,000 people and has factories all over the globe, including in the US, Mexico, Brazil, and South Africa. According to its website, Volkswagen aims to be the most attractive employer in the automotive industry.
15. Pakistan Armed Forces: 654,000 employees
Pakistan's Armed Forces employ 654,000 active personnel and, if necessary, can call up over half a million reservists. Comprising the country's Army, Navy, and Air Force, Pakistan's military was ranked the 10th most powerful in the world in January 2021.
14. State Grid Corporation of China: 896,360 employees
Bearing in mind China's huge population, it's no wonder so many of the country's state-owned monoliths appear in this round-up. The world's largest utility company, China's State Grid Corporation, benefits from a monopoly of the power industry in the People's Republic and has more than a billion customers. According to Fortune, it employs 896,360 people, down from 926,067 in 2017.
13. China Post: 927,171 employees
The biggest postal service on the planet, China Post has a total of 927,171 employees. The company boasts some of the world's largest sorting offices as well as a huge fleet of postal delivery vehicles, trains, and aircraft.
12. Armed Forces of the Russian Federation: 1 million employees
Russia's armed forces include the country's Ground Forces, Aerospace Forces, Navy, Strategic Missile Troop, Airborne Divisions, and Special Ops Forces. The number of active and reserve servicemen and women is set by a Presidential decree. It currently stands at one million active troops and up to a whopping 20 million reservists.
11. Korean People's Army: 1.28 million employees
North Korea's armed forces, which are constantly on a war footing, comprise 1.28 million active personnel and millions of reservists. While many of its citizens go hungry, the repressive rogue state ranks number one in the world for military spending relative to GDP, channelling a significant proportion of the budget into its infamous nuclear programme.
10. Foxconn: 1.29 million employees
The Taiwan-based Hon Hai Precision Industry Company, better known as Foxconn, is China's biggest private employee. The contract manufacturer, which has attracted serious criticism for alleged poor work practices, produces tech on behalf of Apple, Samsung, and more. The firm still counts 1.29 million employees, despite replacing 50% of its workforce with robots by 2016.
9. Amazon: 1.3 million employees
Unlike most other companies, retail giant Amazon held a massive recruitment drive during the pandemic. This resulted in around 500,000 new employees, boosting its workforce from 800,000 to 1.3 million. The figure includes both part and full-time employees but excludes contractors and temporary workers.
8. United Kingdom National Health Service: 1.34 million employees
The UK's National Health Service (NHS) is the world's oldest public healthcare system and renowned for being one of the planet's biggest employers. According to NHS figures from May 2021, the workforce totals around 1.34 million employees, ranging from clinical staff to emergency call handlers.
7. Indian Railways: 1.4 million employees
Famed for its punctuality and bewildering scale, India's state-owned railway network has around 1.4 million staff on its books. The extensive network, which operates both suburban and long-distance services, covers hundreds of thousands of miles and carries a staggering 8.1 billion passengers a year.
6. Indian Armed Forces: 1.45 million employees
India's Armed Forces, comprising the country's Army, Navy and Air Force, have just over 1.45 million active personnel and 1.2 million reserve troops. The country has massively increased its military spending in recent years, from $56.64 billion (£41.23 billion) in 2016 to $71.12 billion (£51.77 billion) in 2019.
5. China National Petroleum Corporation: 1.5 million employees
China's National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC) has a monopoly on oil and gas production in the country. The colossal company has a workforce of 1.5 million and operates rigs and refineries in 30 countries around the world, including Canada, Venezuela, Iran, and Azerbaijan.
4. McDonald's: 1.9 million employees
If you include the fast food company's many franchises, McDonald's global workforce consists of around 1.9 million employees worldwide, making it the world's second-largest private employer. The hamburger chain has a presence in over 100 countries and serves an impressive 69 million diners a day.
3. People's Liberation Army: 2.185 million employees
China's armed forces are the second-biggest in the world with 2.185 million active personnel and a similar number of reservists. The People's Liberation Army (PLA), which comprises the nation's Ground Force, Navy, Air Force, Rocket Force and Strategic Support Force, is the planet's largest-growing force and has undergone rapid modernisation in recent years.
2. Walmart: 2.2 million employees
The largest private sector employer in the world, Walmart has 2.2 million staff in the US and selected countries worldwide. The family-owned retail giant is also the planet's biggest company based on revenue, with an annual turnover of $559 billion (£407 billion) in 2020-21. Walmart also owns several major subsidiaries, including South Africa's Massmart.
1. United States Department of Defense: 2.86 million employees
The world's number one employer, the United States Department of Defense has a total of 2.86 million employees. These include civilian workers and active servicemen and women. As well as boasting the largest number of staff of any military force, the United States military also enjoys the biggest defence budget on the globe, which hit $738 billion (£537.8 billion) in 2020.
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