Which Companies Employ the Most Workers Across America's States?

When examining the employment landscape across the United States, a fascinating picture emerges of how workforce distribution shapes regional economies. Walmart stands as the world’s largest private employer with 2.3 million people on its payroll globally, followed closely by Amazon with approximately 1.3 million employees worldwide. These two retail giants collectively employ more workers than the entire population of countries such as Uruguay, Mongolia, and Albania—a staggering testament to their scale.

State-by-State Employment Leaders: A Diverse Workforce Landscape

The employment headquarters vary dramatically from state to state, reflecting each region’s unique economic characteristics. Data from Dun & Bradstreet’s 2021 Business Rankings reveals that Walmart dominates as the largest employer in 22 states, though its global headquarters remains in Arkansas, where it employs 11,700 workers locally.

Regional Employment Powerhouses Include:

• Alabama: Health Care Authority of City of Huntsville (5,000 local employees)
• Arizona: Wok Parent LLC, a restaurant operator (26,000 employees)
• California: Buck Holdings LP, operating as Dollar Tree (90,000 employees)
• Connecticut: CCO Holdings Capital Corp., a cable television provider (96,100 employees)
• Idaho: Albertsons Companies Inc., representing the largest single-state employer with 270,000 workers
• Florida: ADT Holdings, security services (16,000 employees)
• Georgia: Creative Surfaces Inc., office furniture manufacturing (35,000 employees)
• Illinois: Allstate Corporation, insurance services (12,000 local employees)
• Michigan: FCA US LLC, automotive sector (77,817 employees)
• Missouri: O’Reilly Auto Enterprises (50,000 employees)
• Nevada: Station Voteco LLC, hospitality (12,000 employees)
• North Carolina: Rich Square Logistics LLC, freight and cargo coordination (200,000 employees)
• Oregon: Nike Inc., footwear manufacturing (12,600 local employees)
• Texas: Kentucky Homecare Holdings Inc., healthcare facilities (85,300 employees)

The smallest regional employer among state headquarters is AES Marine Support Services LLC in Alaska, engaging just 1,812 workers in oil and gas field services.

Industry Patterns: Healthcare Dominates Employment Distribution

A striking observation from this data involves industry concentration. Medical, scientific, and research sectors together represent the largest employment category across 12 states. These institutions typically require substantial staffing to maintain continuous operations and patient care services.

Tourism-dependent states naturally follow different employment patterns—Hawaii’s largest employer is Kyo-Ya Hotels & Resorts (3,276 employees), while Nevada’s hospitality sector anchors its workforce distribution. Similarly, states with strong agricultural or manufacturing traditions show corresponding employment leaders in those sectors.

From banking and financial services in New York (BNY Mellon with 40,000 employees) to engineering firms in Maryland and technology companies scattered across multiple states, the employment landscape reflects America’s economic diversity and regional specialization.

What This Means for Job Seekers

For those considering a career change or evaluating employment opportunities, understanding which companies drive local economies proves valuable. The concentration of large employers in specific industries within each state suggests where the most stable, high-volume job opportunities exist. The fact that these employers collectively support millions of American households underscores their critical role in regional economic health and employment stability during periods of economic uncertainty.

The geographic distribution of these employment leaders—from healthcare systems in the Midwest to tech and logistics hubs on the coasts—reflects broader economic trends and regional comparative advantages that continue shaping America’s workforce dynamics.