Overall Employee Growth
Costco experienced a consistent increase in its total number of employees worldwide, growing from
274,000 in 2019 to
335,000 in 2023, marking a total increase of
61,000 employees over the five-year period.
Growth Rate in the United States
The United States saw the most significant increase in Costco employees, with numbers rising from
167,000 in 2019 to
208,000 in 2023, an increase of
41,000 employees, representing the largest share of overall
employee growth.
International Expansion
Costco's international employee base (Canada and Other International combined) increased from
87,000 in 2019 to
127,000 in 2023, indicating a strong focus on international market expansion with an increase of
40,000 employees.
Growth Comparison: United States vs. International
Employee growth in the United States (
41,000) nearly matched the combined growth in Canada and Other International regions (
40,000) from 2019 to 2023, highlighting a balanced expansion strategy between domestic and international markets.
Yearly Growth Consistency
Each year, Costco consistently added employees across all regions, with no year showing a decrease in employee count, demonstrating steady organizational growth.
Canada's Steady Increase
In Canada, Costco's workforce grew from
42,000 in 2019 to
51,000 in 2023, showing a steady increase of
9,000 employees over the five years.
Significant Growth in Other International Regions
The "Other International" category saw an increase from
45,000 in 2019 to
57,000 in 2023, a rise of
12,000 employees, underscoring the importance of expanding into new global markets.
Largest Yearly Increase in the United States
The largest single-year increase in the United States occurred
between 2022 and 2023, with a jump of
6,000 employees, reflecting a significant investment in U.S. operations during this period.
Acceleration in Global Expansion
The rate of growth in the "Other International" category accelerated, with an increase of
5,000 employees from
2022 to 2023, the largest year-over-year increase for this category, indicating an accelerating pace of global expansion.