Costco: Number of Employees, by country
YearU.S.CanadaOther
2023208,00051,00057,000
2022202,00050,00052,000
2021192,00047,00049,000
2020181,00046,00046,000
2019167,00042,00045,000
  • Region: Worldwide
  • Time period: 2019 to 2023
  • Published: 2023

Data Analysis and Insights

Updated: Mar 27, 2024 | Published by: Statistico | About Us | Data sources

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.

Frequently Asked Questions

How did Costco's employee count change between 2019 and 2023?

Costco saw a significant rise in its employee count from 274,000 in 2019 to 335,000 in 2023, adding a total of 61,000 employees.

What was the trend in Costco's employee growth rate in the United States?

In the United States, Costco's employee count increased by 41,000 from 167,000 in 2019 to 208,000 in 2023.

How much did Costco's international (Canada and Other International combined) employee base grow from 2019 to 2023?

Costco's international employee base experienced a surge of 40,000 employees from 87,000 in 2019 to 127,000 in 2023.

How does the employee growth in the United States compare with the growth in Canada and other International regions from 2019 to 2023?

The growth was nearly identical with 41,000 employees added in the United States, and 40,000 employees added in Canada and other international regions combined.

Terms and Definitions

Costco Wholesale Corporation is an American multinational corporation which operates a chain of membership-only big-box retail stores. Known as one of the largest retailers worldwide, Costco offers a variety of products including groceries, appliances, electronics, clothing, and more, often sold in high volume quantities.

Global employees, in the context of a company like Costco, refers to the total workforce that the company employs in all the countries where it operates. It includes all full-time and part-time employees across the company's retail stores, distribution centers, administrative offices, and other facilities worldwide.

Membership-Only refers to a business model where access to a company's products or services is based on subscription or membership. Costco utilizes this model, requiring customers to pay a recurring annual fee to shop at its stores.

Big-box retail stores, also known as superstores or megastores, are a type of retail store that occupies an enormous amount of physical space and offers a wide range of products. They are designed to sell large quantities of goods at a low cost per unit.

A multinational corporation (MNC) is a corporate organization that owns or controls production of goods or services in at least one country other than its home country. It can also be referred to as an international corporation.

Full-time employees work a complete set of hours as determined by their employer. This is in contrast to part-time employees, who work fewer hours per week. The specific amount of hours to be considered full-time varies by country and company.

Part-time employees work fewer hours than their full-time counterparts. The specific amount of hours for part-time work varies by country and company, but it's generally considered to be less than 35 hours per week.

Distribution centers are facilities that store and disperse merchandise for a company. Goods are brought to these facilities and then distributed to the respective storefronts or directly to consumers. Costco's distribution centers play a vital role in maintaining stock levels at its retail locations.
All statistics
All topics
Costco
Costco, a multinational corporation, specializes in selling a wide range of items, including groceries, appliances, electronics, and more, in bulk at discounted rates in its high-volume warehouse clubs. Read more »
All locations
Canada
Explore Canada's detailed statistical profile, including demographics, economy, education, and healthcare. Learn about this North American country's population, GDP. Read more »
Share