Costco Total Employees Worldwide And By Segment

Global workforce. Pexels Images.

This article covers Costco’s total employees worldwide and employee numbers by segment. Costco’s operating segments consist of the U.S., Canada, and International markets.

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Investors interested in Costco’s other key statistics may find more resources on these pages:

• Costco same stores sales by segment: U.S., Canada, and International,
• Costco total gas station numbers and gasoline sales, and
• Costco revenue sources by category: merchandise sales and membership fees.

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Definitions

To help readers understand the content better, the following terms and glossaries have been provided.

Costco Employees: Costco employees are individuals who work for Costco Wholesale Corporation, a global retailer known for its membership-based warehouse stores. They encompass a range of positions, including roles in retail, logistics, customer service, management, and more.

Costco is recognized for offering competitive wages and benefits, which can include healthcare coverage, retirement plans, and paid time off for both full-time and part-time workers.

Costco employees are often praised for their professionalism and dedication, contributing to the company’s reputation for excellent customer service.

Many employees benefit from a work environment that emphasizes fair treatment, opportunities for growth, and workplace stability. The company has consistently been noted for its strong commitment to employee satisfaction and retention.

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Why are Costco’s employees concentrated mainly in the U.S.?

Costco’s employee concentration in the U.S. is largely due to the company’s origins and its significant presence in the American market. Costco was founded in the United States, and its headquarters are located in Issaquah, Washington.

The U.S. remains its largest market, with the majority of its warehouse locations situated there. This naturally leads to a higher concentration of employees in the country.

Additionally, Costco’s business model thrives on membership-based retail, which has been particularly successful in the U.S. market. The company’s expansion into international markets has been more gradual, resulting in a smaller workforce outside the U.S. compared to its domestic operations.

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Total Employees Worldwide

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By the end of fiscal year 2024, Costco employed approximately 333,000 individuals across its global operations. This represented a notable increase of 17,000 employees, compared to the 316,000 reported at the end of fiscal year 2023. The consistent year-over-year growth in Costco’s workforce underscores the company’s ongoing expansion and the rising demand for its membership-based retail model.

Taking a broader perspective on Costco’s workforce evolution, the company has seen an impressive increase in global employees over the past decade. Between fiscal years 2014 and 2024, the total number of Costco workers rose by more than 70%. In fiscal year 2014, Costco reported a workforce of 195,000, whereas by 2024, this figure had reached 333,000 — a remarkable growth trajectory reflecting the retailer’s aggressive expansion into new markets and its ability to sustain its dominant position in existing ones.

This upward trend in employee count aligns with Costco’s strategic initiatives, including opening new warehouse locations, enhancing logistics operations, and scaling its e-commerce capabilities. As the company continues to grow globally, its workforce expansion highlights its commitment to maintaining operational efficiency while delivering quality service to its members.

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Employees In The U.S., Canada, and International Markets

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By the end of fiscal year 2024, Costco’s U.S. workforce reached 219,000 employees, marking a notable increase of 11,000 workers from the 208,000 reported in 2023. This steady growth highlights Costco’s expansion and ability to scale its operations in its largest market.

Over the longer term, the U.S. workforce has seen a remarkable increase of over 30% since fiscal year 2019, when employee levels were at 167,000. Such sustained growth underscores the retailer’s consistent focus on meeting rising consumer demand within its primary market.

Meanwhile, in Canada, Costco employed approximately 53,000 workers at the close of fiscal year 2024. This represents significant progress when compared to earlier periods. Since fiscal year 2019, the Canadian workforce has expanded by 26%, demonstrating strong growth as Costco continues to strengthen its presence in the region.

Similarly, the company’s international workforce — spanning markets outside the U.S. and Canada — stood at approximately 61,000 employees in fiscal year 2024. This segment of Costco’s workforce has experienced particularly dynamic growth, with an impressive 36% increase from fiscal year 2019 levels. The surge reflects the company’s ongoing global expansion efforts, coupled with its ability to penetrate and thrive in diverse markets.

Taken together, these trends reveal Costco’s commitment to scaling its operations worldwide. The consistent increases across all regions indicate strategic investments in new warehouses, logistics, and customer service teams, positioning the company to support its growing global membership base effectively.

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Percentage Of Employees In The U.S., Canada, and International Markets

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As of the end of fiscal year 2024, Costco’s U.S.-based employees made up a substantial 66% of its global workforce, maintaining their dominance as the majority group. This proportion has remained remarkably stable over recent years, showing little variation when compared to the 66% reported at the close of fiscal year 2019. This consistent ratio reflects the company’s strong operational focus and its primary market presence in the United States, which continues to anchor its global strategy.

Meanwhile, Costco’s workforce in Canada represented 16% of its worldwide employee base in fiscal year 2024. This percentage highlights the importance of the Canadian market as a secondary hub for Costco’s operations. Similarly, employees in international markets — comprising all regions outside the U.S. and Canada — accounted for 18% of Costco’s total global workforce during the same period. These international markets have seen notable development, though their workforce proportion remains just slightly higher than Canada’s.

Interestingly, these workforce distribution ratios have remained consistent when measured against fiscal year 2019. The stability in percentages across regions indicates that while Costco has expanded its global employee count significantly over the years, the relative contribution of each geographic segment to the total workforce has stayed constant. This suggests a balanced expansion strategy that upholds the retailer’s stronghold in the U.S. while steadily growing its presence in Canada and international markets.

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Employees By Country YoY Growth Rates

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Costco’s global workforce experienced a steady annual growth rate of 5.6% from fiscal year 2020 to 2024, reflecting the company’s consistent expansion and its ability to scale operations to meet increasing market demands. This growth highlights Costco’s investment in talent as a cornerstone of its business strategy, ensuring the company is equipped to handle its expanding presence across diverse markets.

On a regional level, Costco’s U.S. workforce also grew at an average annual rate of 5.6% during this five-year period, aligning with the company’s continued focus on its largest and most profitable market. The expansion of its U.S. workforce corresponds with Costco’s increased number of warehouse openings, enhancements in supply chain operations, and stronger e-commerce capabilities in the region.

In Canada, the growth rate of Costco employees averaged 4.8% annually, slightly below the global rate but still indicative of healthy expansion. This reflects Costco’s solidified position as a leading retailer in Canada and its gradual scaling efforts to meet consumer demand within the region. The growth is likely supported by strategic initiatives such as warehouse openings in key Canadian cities and improved service offerings tailored to the market.

Meanwhile, Costco’s international workforce demonstrated slightly higher growth at 6.3% annually between fiscal year 2020 and 2024. This outpacing of U.S. and Canadian growth rates underscores Costco’s increasing efforts to penetrate international markets. The company has been investing heavily in new territories, opening warehouses in regions such as Asia, Europe, and Australia, while adapting its business model to cater to diverse consumer bases.

These regional trends showcase Costco’s balanced expansion strategy, with investments focused on both its established markets in North America and its emerging presence globally. The variations in annual growth rates reveal the dynamic nature of its workforce development, as the company strategically aligns employee growth with regional demands and operational priorities.

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Insight

Essentially, Costco’s workforce growth is intricately linked to its strategic global and regional expansion. The consistency in workforce proportions over the past five years showcases Costco’s methodical approach to scaling.

The company has balanced significant international investments with strong market positioning in North America, ensuring operational efficiency and workforce alignment across all regions.

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References and Credits

1. All financial figures presented were obtained and referenced from Costco’s annual reports published on the company’s investor relations page: Costco Investor Relations.

2. Pexels Images.

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Disclosure

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