Biggest Industries by Employment in the US in 2022

1. Public Schools in the US

Employment number for 2022: 6,821,201

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 school districts' 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 2.1% over the five years to 2022. Consequently, industry revenue is estimated to increase at an annualized rate of 1.6% to $866.8 billion... Learn More

2. Hospitals in the US

Employment number for 2022: 5,772,842

Hospitals play a central role in the healthcare sector and have a critical impact on the wellbeing of the US population. Thus, the Hospitals industry is one of the largest industries in the economy, responsible for nearly 5.8% of US gross domestic product (GDP). Over the five years to 2022, industry revenue has increased, supported by rising health expenditure and growing insurance coverage over the majority of the period. However, the industry was significantly strained by the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic, as hospitals balanced an influx of patients requiring resource-intensive care, staffing shortages and rising costs. Simultaneously, revenue derived from nonelective... Learn More

3. Fast Food Restaurants in the US

Employment number for 2022: 5,065,599

Over the five years to 2022, 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 rising popularity of fast-casual restaurants have also benefited this industry as a whole, helping the industry maintain revenue growth, prior to experiencing decline in 2020 amid the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic. Moreover, intense internal and external competition has forced fast-food operators to emphasize low prices in a battle to attract consumers. As a result, industry revenue is expected to increase an annualized 2.8% to $331.4 billion over the past five... Learn More

4. Office Staffing & Temp Agencies in the US

Employment number for 2022: 3,865,265

Over the five years to 2022, the Office Staffing and Temp Agencies industry has recorded growth due to a growing US labor market. However, the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic has created unfavorable economic conditions which 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.

In the current five-year period, prior to the coronavirus pandemic, unemployment... Learn More

5. Professional Employer Organizations in the US

Employment number for 2022: 3,849,921

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. Over the five years to 2022, industry revenue has increased at an annualized rate of 7.0% to $283.6 billion, including an expected increase of 8.5% in 2022 alone. Strong growth in industry revenue is largely explained by a growing interest in PEO services. During the past five years, more businesses have used PEO services to reduce internal HR costs. Meanwhile, industry operators... Learn More

6. Single Location Full-Service Restaurants in the US

Employment number for 2022: 3,541,877

The Single Location Full-Service Restaurants industry experienced revenue growth over the five years to 2022. Over 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 past five years due to solid growth in the income levels of affluent consumers. Nevertheless, when the coronavirus first struck, industry operators were forced to curtail dine-in operations, thus reducing demand for fine-dining restaurants as services as these establishments involve a high degree of hands-on experience. Besides,... Learn More

7. The Retail Market for Jewelry in the US

Employment number for 2022: 3,315,050

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 2022, 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 11.7%... Learn More

8. Colleges & Universities in the US

Employment number for 2022: 3,044,100

The Colleges and Universities industry includes public and private nonprofit colleges and universities that offer academic courses and grant baccalaureate or graduate degrees. Over the five years to 2022, 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 reversed as the COVID-19 (coronavirus) struck, bolstering industry demand. Nonetheless, the shift to fully remote learning amid the pandemic somewhat hinders demand for colleges and universities, especially among private universities. This caused enrollment at private non-profit universities to decline in 2020 and this trend has continued... Learn More

9. Supermarkets & Grocery Stores in the US

Employment number for 2022: 2,806,664

Revenue for the Supermarkets and Grocery Stores industry has grown over the five years to 2022, 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 2.6% to $811.5 billion over the five years to 2022, including an increase of 8.7% in 2020 as consumers... Learn More

10. The Retail Market for Shoes in the US

Employment number for 2022: 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