With revenues exceeding $500 billion and operations spanning ecommerce, cloud computing, digital streaming, logistics, and more, Amazon requires a massive workforce to maintain its position as one of the most influential technology companies on earth. But exactly how many people does Amazon employ across its global empire? Let‘s analyze the latest data to get an in-depth look at the size and scope of Amazon‘s employee base.
Rapid Growth in Headcount Mirrors Amazon‘s Rise
Amazon‘s worldwide headcount has expanded at a breakneck pace over the past decade, rising from just 30,000 employees in 2011 to over 1.6 million in 2021. That staggering employee increase reflects the company‘s evolution beyond its retail roots into a digital services titan:
- 2011 – 30,000 employees
- 2015 – 230,800 employees
- 2019 – 798,000 employees
- 2020 – 1,298,000 employees
- 2021 – 1,608,000 employees
As revenue soared from $48 billion to $386 billion over the past 10 years, Amazon hired aggressively to meet demand across its various businesses. Major strategic moves like the $13.7 billion Whole Foods acquisition in 2017 contributed over 100,000 employees instantly.
For 2022, Amazon‘s global headcount decreased slightly to 1,541,000, down 4% from 2021. But even with recent cutbacks, long-term expansion is expected to continue.
Over 1 Million Strong in the United States
Amazon‘s home market, the United States, accounts for the majority of its workforce. As of 2021, Amazon had over 1.1 million employees in the US across its corporate offices, fulfillment and sortation centers, delivery stations, Whole Foods locations, and physical retail stores.
This represents a more than 3X increase in US headcount since 2015 when Amazon had "just" 341,400 employees domestically. Today, nearly every US state now houses Amazon facilities and/or staff.
California leads the country with over 170,000 Amazon employees concentrated largely in the Los Angeles and San Francisco regions. Meanwhile, some less populated states like Wyoming and Vermont currently have no Amazon presence.
Distribution of Staff Worldwide
While the US provides the bulk of headcount, Amazon has employees in countries across the globe:
- United States – 1,100,000+
- India – 108,000
- Germany – 28,000
- Japan – 24,000
- UK – 29,500
- Others – 250,000+
Key facilities abroad include corporate offices in India and Luxembourg, fulfillment centers in Mexico and Australia, AWS infrastructure in Bahrain and South Africa, and fresh grocery retail with Whole Foods in Canada and UK.
All told, Amazon has a presence in 27 countries worldwide as it seeks to expand its reach and provide better service to customers everywhere.
Breakdown of Amazon‘s Employee Mix
Amazon classifies its roles into three main segments:
Corporate – Finance, Marketing, Legal, HR, Accounting, etc.
Technology – Software Development, AI/ML, Cloud Computing, Cybersecurity, etc.
Operations – Fulfillment Centers, Transportation, Delivery, Physical Stores, etc.
Within those broad groups exist hundreds of specific jobs from solutions architects to roboticists to sortation associates. Here is an approximate employee allocation across Amazon‘s businesses:
- Online and Physical Retail – 750,000
- Logistics and Operations – 550,000
- AWS Cloud – 150,000
- Devices, Echo, Alexa – 50,000
- Streaming (Prime Video) – 25,000
- Other Corp/Tech Roles – 100,000
No matter the role, Amazon promises competitive and equitable compensation plus benefits like health insurance and performance-based stock awards.
Amazon‘s Commitment to Diversity
Amazon strives for diversity and inclusion across its global workforce. Here are some workforce composition stats for 2021:
- Gender – 48.3% women, 51.7% men
- Race (US only):
- 32.9% Black
- 26.7% White
- 27.2% Hispanic/Latinx
- 8.2% Asian
- 3.3% Multiracial
- 1.7% Native American
While there is still room for improvement, Amazon exceeds many technology peers in employing women and underrepresented minorities.
What Do Employees Have to Say?
Reviews of Amazon‘s work culture are generally positive, with a 3.8/5 rating on Glassdoor. 74% of reviewers approve of CEO Andy Jassy. Pros often cite good pay, benefits, and career growth opportunities. Cons include the fast-paced environment and high expectations.
With average compensation competitive for most roles and a vast range of global career paths, Amazon will likely remain an attractive employment destination.
The Road Ahead
Although recent cuts have lowered headcount slightly, Amazon employed over 1.6 million people worldwide as of 2021. Domestic and international expansion across all its businesses continues, suggesting the workforce could return to growth in 2023 and beyond.
No matter the economy, shoppers and organizations worldwide rely on Amazon for products, services and innovation. The hundreds of thousands of driven employees across the company work diligently to deliver on that trust.
