Biggest Industries by Employment in the US in 2021

1. Public Schools in the US

Employment number for 2021: 6,646,292

The Public Schools industry includes traditional elementary (kindergarten through fifth grade), middle (sixth or seventh through eighth grade) and high schools (ninth through 12th grade), as well as both charter and magnet schools. Due to operators' reliance on state and local government funding, industry revenue is directly affected by changes in tax revenue, which are affected by overall economic health. Government funding for primary and secondary education is estimated to grow at an annualized rate of 1.7% over the five years to 2021. As such, industry revenue is estimated to increase at an annualized rate of 1.3% to $791.1 billion... Learn More

2. Hospitals in the US

Employment number for 2021: 5,021,662

Despite being a primary provider of healthcare in the United States, revenue for the Hospitals industry has declined over the five years to 2021, as hospitals across the United States have struggled with the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic. As the coronavirus pandemic spread in early 2020, hospitals were crucial in the treatment and control of the virus. However, due to the highly contagious nature of the virus, people have avoided hospitals for nonessential and nonemergency care. While hospitals have experienced an influx of patients with coronavirus, and have, in many cases, operated at capacity, high value patients have stayed away. Elective... Learn More

3. Fast Food Restaurants in the US

Employment number for 2021: 4,593,559

Over the five years to 2021, the Fast Food Restaurants industry has grappled with shifting consumer preferences and a saturated food service landscape that has kept prices low. The addition and popularity of fast-casual restaurants have also boded well for this industry as a whole, helping the industry maintain revenue growth before taking a hit in 2020. Nonetheless, intense internal and external competition has forced fast-food operators to emphasize low prices in a battle to attract consumers. This has been intensified by falling consumer sentiment, resulting from economic fallout following the COVID-19 (coronavirus) outbreak in 2020. Moreover, the mandatory shelter-in-place... Learn More

4. Office Staffing & Temp Agencies in the US

Employment number for 2021: 3,307,096

Over the five years to 2021, the Office Staffing and Temp Agencies industry has recorded growth due to a growing US labor market and overall economic improvements. However, the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic has created unfavorable economic conditions. This has caused the industry and labor market to significantly decline over 2020. Industry operators supply businesses with workers for predetermined periods of time to supplement their existing staff. Operators in the industry are considered legal employers of temp workers since they are responsible for payroll, although they do not directly supervise the employees at work sites.

During the current five-year period, prior to... Learn More

5. Single Location Full-Service Restaurants in the US

Employment number for 2021: 3,234,635

The Single Location Full-Service Restaurants industry experienced revenue growth over the five years to 2021. For most of the past five years, the growing domestic economy and rising consumer spending led to consistent increases in consumers spending money on food away from home, increasing full-service restaurant spending. The fine-dining segment performed particularly well over the majority of the past five years due to solid growth in the income levels of affluent consumers. Conversely, restaurants at the lower end of the market struggled with low growth as consumers traded down to the innovative products served by a growing number of new... Learn More

6. Colleges & Universities in the US

Employment number for 2021: 3,152,117

The Colleges and Universities industry includes public and private nonprofit colleges and universities that offer academic courses and grant baccalaureate or graduate degrees. For most of the past five years, strengthened job markets and better employment prospects hindered industry demand, causing high school graduates to enter the workforce and forgo postsecondary education. However, this trend has reversed since the COVID-19 (coronavirus) struck, bolstering industry demand. Moreover, growth in government funding and private donations have further supported the industry revenue during the same period. Overall, industry revenue is estimated to grow at an annualized rate of 4.8% to $580.7 billion over... Learn More

7. Professional Employer Organizations in the US

Employment number for 2021: 2,993,445

The Professional Employer Organizations industry comprises organizations that specialize in providing human resource (HR) management and administrative services through a co-employment relationship. Industry participants are responsible for all aspects of employee management, including hiring, payroll and benefits administration. These companies serve as the legal employers of their clients' employees, although the clients continue to manage their day-to-day operations. The industry has performed well over the five years to 2021. However, the outbreak of the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic in 2020 caused disruptions in the global financial markets, leading to increased unemployment. As a result, industry operators experienced lower demand for their... Learn More

8. The Retail Market for Jewelry

Employment number for 2021: 2,883,145

The Retail Market for Jewelry industry offers jewelry, timepieces and sterling and plated silverware through a variety of retail channels, both in store and online. Over the five years to 2021, the industry has benefited from rising consumer spending and per capita disposable income, enabling consumers to make discretionary purchases on industry products. However, a falling marriage rate and trends toward reduced spending on engagement rings have further pressured demand for the industry's engagement and wedding jewelry. Furthermore, a sharp decline in consumer confidence amid the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic pressured discretionary spending on industry products, resulting in an estimated 12.9%... Learn More

9. Supermarkets & Grocery Stores in the US

Employment number for 2021: 2,625,198

Revenue for the Supermarkets and Grocery Stores industry has grown over the five years to 2021, benefiting from a strengthening economy for most of the period. As per capita disposable income has increased, many consumers have shifted to premium, organic and all-natural brands, helping lift industry revenue. Furthermore, revenue boomed amid the height of the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic as the shutdown of nonessential businesses led consumers to increase their expenditure on groceries. Overall, industry revenue is expected to grow an annualized 3.1% to $758.5 billion over the five years to 2021, including an increase of 2.3% in 2021 as consumers... Learn More

10. The Retail Market for Shoes

Employment number for 2021: 2,512,650

Increasing per capita disposable income and e-commerce sales have spurred growth for the Retail Market for Shoes over the five years to 2021. Industry operators span a diverse range of retail channels, selling men's, women's, children's and athletic footwear and accessories. The rising price of industry products, coupled with increasing sales volumes, has driven revenue growth during the five-year period. Furthermore, the industry has benefited from a rise in the popularity of products spanning a wide range of price points. To a certain degree, shoes are relatively inelastic because some shoes are necessary; however, the majority of industry products are... Learn More