The Largest Employers by State: Understanding America's Employment Geography

When analyzing which companies are the largest employers by state in the United States, the data reveals a complex and diverse economic landscape. Based on Dun & Bradstreet’s 2021 Business Rankings, the employment distribution across America shows clear patterns dominated by several major corporations, though the story varies significantly depending on your geographic location.

Walmart stands as the global employment giant, with 2.3 million employees worldwide and annual revenues exceeding $570 billion. Meanwhile, Amazon follows as the second-largest employer globally, with approximately 1.3 million employees and revenues around $470 billion annually. The combined workforce of these two retail and technology giants surpasses the entire population of countries like Uruguay, Mongolia, and Albania, underscoring their massive economic influence.

State-by-State Patterns in the Largest Employers by State

The largest employers by state reveal significant diversity beyond just Walmart and Amazon. Walmart dominates the employer rankings in 22 states across America, yet when looking at state headquarters specifically, Albertsons takes the lead in its home state of Idaho with 270,000 employees on its payroll. In contrast, Alaska’s largest employer by state—AES Marine Support Services LLC—has just 1,812 employees, highlighting the vast differences in employment scales between states.

When mapping out the largest employers by state, geography and industry play decisive roles. In states dependent on tourism such as Hawaii and Nevada, major hotel and resort operators lead employment numbers. Hawaii’s Kyo-Ya Hotels & Resorts dominates with 3,276 employees, while Nevada’s Station Voteco LLC employs 12,000 workers, both tied to hospitality services that drive their regional economies.

The Healthcare and Medical Services Dominance

One striking pattern emerges across American states: the medical and healthcare industries represent the largest employers by state in 12 different states. Organizations like the Mayo Foundation in Minnesota (30,000 employees), Intermountain Health Care in Utah (30,000 employees), and UofL Health in Kentucky (10,000 employees) demonstrate how critical healthcare infrastructure is to regional employment. These facilities require substantial permanent staffing to maintain continuous operations and patient care.

Beyond hospitals, other medical service providers rank among the largest employers in various states. The Health Care Authority in Alabama, Nebraska Medicine in Nebraska, and the University of Vermont Medical Center each employ thousands of workers, reinforcing healthcare’s role as a major employment sector across diverse regions.

Industry Diversification Among State’s Largest Employers

Examining which industries host the largest employers by state reveals American economic diversity. Retail continues strong with companies like Dollar Tree (90,000 employees in California) and O’Reilly Auto Enterprises (50,000 employees in Missouri). Manufacturing remains significant, with FCA US LLC (automotive) in Michigan leading with 77,817 employees.

Technology and professional services also feature prominently among the largest employers by state. Companies like Nike in Oregon (12,600 employees in-state), ADP Atlantic in New Jersey (54,000 employees), and various telecommunications firms round out the employment landscape. Engineering services, computer programming, and financial services providers ensure that white-collar industries also dominate employment in several states.

The smallest employer ranking as a state’s largest—Wyoming’s Omega Probe Inc. with 2,200 employees in computer programming services—still demonstrates the significance of specialized technology sectors even in less populous regions.

Key Insights on America’s Employment Structure

The distribution of the largest employers by state shows that while mega-corporations like Walmart have locations nationwide, their concentration varies dramatically. Walmart maintains only 11,700 employees in its Bentonville, Arkansas headquarters location, despite its global dominance. This illustrates how distributed modern employment truly is across multiple locations rather than concentrated in corporate hubs.

For job seekers navigating today’s economic landscape, understanding the largest employers by state in your region offers valuable career insights. Whether you’re targeting established corporate roles, specialized medical positions, or industry-specific opportunities, most states offer substantial employment opportunities within major regional employers. As economic pressures persist, identifying growth sectors and major hiring organizations remains a strategic approach to career advancement and financial stability.

The analysis of the largest employers by state ultimately demonstrates that American job markets are shaped by regional economic specializations, industry presence, and established corporate infrastructure that varies considerably from coast to coast.