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As of 2026, retail sales continue to be a dominant force in the U.S. economy, with projections suggesting they will reach new heights in the coming years. The largest companies by employee count in many states remain rooted in the retail sector, demonstrating the ongoing significance of this industry. Additionally, the technology sector, particularly in electronics and IT, has become increasingly vital, reflecting the growth of remote work and digital services.
The company with the highest employee count remains familiar: Wal-Mart, headquartered in Arkansas, employs approximately 2.3 million individuals worldwide, with around 1.4 million based in the U.S. This underscores the retailer’s pivotal role in the national employment landscape.
Following Wal-Mart, Georgia’s UPS, a leader in transportation and logistics, employs around 434,000 people. Walgreens, representing healthcare in Illinois, and FedEx from Tennessee, both have nearly 400,000 employees each, highlighting the importance of these sectors in the modern economy.
On the smaller end of the spectrum, the University of Wyoming stands out as the largest employer in its state, with about 3,000 employees. Given Wyoming’s status as the least populated state, this figure is notably significant.
Summary of Findings
- The retail industry comprises eight of the 28 employers with over 100,000 workers.
- Both the food and beverage and insurance and finance sectors serve as top employers in five states each.
- The U.S. Army, based in Virginia, remains the only federal employer on this list, with over 350,000 employees.
- General Motors in Michigan stands as the sole representative of the automotive industry, employing 225,000 workers.
- MGM Resorts International continues to be the largest employer in Nevada, with over 60,000 workers, reflecting the enduring popularity of the entertainment and hospitality sector.
How We Conducted This Analysis
Our analysis involved examining each state’s largest employer and categorizing them by industry sector based on their primary functions and outputs. Data was sourced from our comprehensive internal database, which compiles information from a variety of reputable sources. The employee counts reflect total employees across all locations.
Total Employees by Industry
Retail – 9
Electronics / Technology – 6
Healthcare – 6
Food / Beverage – 5
Insurance / Finance – 5
Energy / Chemicals – 3
Construction – 3
Telecommunications / Media – 3
Hospitality – 3
Education – 2
Transportation / Logistics – 2
Federal – 1
Automotive – 1
Entertainment – 1
Author
McLeod Brown is a former writer and researcher for the Zippia Career Advice blog. His work at Zippia focused on understanding the relationship between colleges, debt, and jobs. A graduate of the University of North Carolina at Wilmington with a BA in Business Administrator, he is now pursuing a masters of science in analytics from the Institute of Advanced Analytics.
