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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For other key statistics of Costco, you may find more resources on this page: Costco key stats.
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Table Of Contents
Definitions And Overview
O2. Why are Costco’s employees concentrated mainly in the U.S.?
Insight & Summary of Observed Trends
Z1. Insight & Summary of Costco’s Global Workforce and Workforce By Segment
Headcount Overview
A1. Headcount at end of period and average headcount
Headcount Distribution
B1. Employees distribution by region
B2. Employees mix by region
B3. Employees growth by region
Reference, Credits, and Disclosure
S1. References and Credits
S2. Disclosure
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.
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.
Insight & Summary of Costco’s Global Workforce and Workforce By Segment
The following analysis consolidates the trends observed across Costco’s global employees and employees breakdown for the 2014–2025 period.
Costco has maintained a highly consistent trajectory of workforce expansion, scaling its global employee base from 195,000 in 2014 to 341,000 by 2025.
While the company achieved a robust historical growth rate — peaking at 7.5% in 2020 to support pandemic-era volume surges — headcount additions have naturally decelerated in recent periods.
Over the last three fiscal years, worldwide employee growth averaged 3.9%, culminating in a more normalized 2.4% expansion in 2025, reflecting operational stabilization and efficiency gains at scale.
From a geographic mix perspective, the United States remains the foundational operational hub, accounting for a commanding 65.7% of the total workforce on a three-year average basis.
However, international markets represent the clearest vector for strategic expansion. Driven by accelerated overseas warehouse openings, the International segment achieved a field-leading average growth rate of 6.6% over the latest three periods—nearly double the U.S. domestic growth rate (3.4%).
Consequently, the International segment’s share of the workforce mix has steadily climbed to 18.5% by 2025, underscoring a deliberate capital and operational rotation toward high-growth global territories outside of North America.
The table below combines Costco’s headcounts metrics into a single view for the latest three fiscal years.
Costco’s Employees Breakdown by Segment — Averages (FY2023–FY2025)
| Metric | 3-Year Average (FY2023–FY2025) |
|---|---|
| Headcount Overview | |
| Headcount at End of Period | 330,000 |
| Average Headcount | 323,833 |
| Headcount YoY Growth | 4.4% |
| Employees Distribution by Region | |
| United States | 216,667 |
| Canada | 53,000 |
| International | 60,333 |
| Worldwide | 330,000 |
| Employees Mix by Region | |
| United States | 65.7% |
| Canada | 16.0% |
| International | 18.3% |
| Worldwide | 100.0% |
| Employees Growth by Region | |
| United States | 3.4% |
| Canada | 3.2% |
| International | 6.6% |
| Worldwide | 3.9% |
Averages cover FY2023–FY2025. Employee counts rounded to nearest whole unit. Mix and growth rounded to one decimal place.
Headcount at end of period and average headcount
View data as table
Costco Headcount Overview — All Metrics by Fiscal Year
| Fiscal Year | Headcount at End of Period | Average Headcount | Headcount YoY Growth |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | 195,000 | 195,000 | n.a. |
| 2015 | 205,000 | 200,000 | 2.6% |
| 2016 | 218,000 | 211,500 | 5.8% |
| 2017 | 231,000 | 224,500 | 6.1% |
| 2018 | 245,000 | 238,000 | 6.0% |
| 2019 | 254,000 | 249,500 | 4.8% |
| 2020 | 273,000 | 263,500 | 5.6% |
| 2021 | 288,000 | 280,500 | 6.5% |
| 2022 | 304,000 | 296,000 | 5.5% |
| 2023 | 316,000 | 310,000 | 4.7% |
| 2024 | 333,000 | 324,500 | 4.7% |
| 2025 | 341,000 | 337,000 | 3.9% |
Headcount Overview — Averages (FY2023–FY2025)
| Metric | 3-Year Average (FY2023–FY2025) |
|---|---|
| Headcount at End of Period | 330,000 |
| Average Headcount | 323,833 |
| Headcount YoY Growth | 4.4% |
Averages cover FY2023–FY2025. Employee counts rounded to nearest whole unit. Mix and growth rounded to one decimal place.
Employees distribution by region
View data as table
Costco Employees Distribution by Region — All Metrics by Fiscal Year
| Fiscal Year | United States | Canada | International | Worldwide |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 167,000 | 42,000 | 45,000 | 254,000 |
| 2020 | 181,000 | 46,000 | 46,000 | 273,000 |
| 2021 | 192,000 | 47,000 | 49,000 | 288,000 |
| 2022 | 202,000 | 50,000 | 52,000 | 304,000 |
| 2023 | 208,000 | 51,000 | 57,000 | 316,000 |
| 2024 | 219,000 | 53,000 | 61,000 | 333,000 |
| 2025 | 223,000 | 55,000 | 63,000 | 341,000 |
Employees Distribution by Region — Averages (FY2023–FY2025)
| Metric | 3-Year Average (FY2023–FY2025) |
|---|---|
| United States | 216,667 |
| Canada | 53,000 |
| International | 60,333 |
| Worldwide | 330,000 |
Averages cover FY2023–FY2025. Employee counts rounded to nearest whole unit. Mix and growth rounded to one decimal place.
Employees mix by region
View data as table
Costco Employees Mix by Region — All Metrics by Fiscal Year
| Fiscal Year | United States | Canada | International | Worldwide |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 65.7% | 16.5% | 17.7% | 100.0% |
| 2020 | 66.3% | 16.8% | 16.8% | 100.0% |
| 2021 | 66.7% | 16.3% | 17.0% | 100.0% |
| 2022 | 66.4% | 16.4% | 17.1% | 100.0% |
| 2023 | 65.8% | 16.1% | 18.0% | 100.0% |
| 2024 | 65.8% | 15.9% | 18.3% | 100.0% |
| 2025 | 65.4% | 16.1% | 18.5% | 100.0% |
Employees Mix by Region — Averages (FY2023–FY2025)
| Metric | 3-Year Average (FY2023–FY2025) |
|---|---|
| United States | 65.7% |
| Canada | 16.0% |
| International | 18.3% |
| Worldwide | 100.0% |
Averages cover FY2023–FY2025. Employee counts rounded to nearest whole unit. Mix and growth rounded to one decimal place.
Employees growth by region
View data as table
Costco Employees Growth by Region — All Metrics by Fiscal Year
| Fiscal Year | United States | Canada | International | Worldwide |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 8.4% | 9.5% | 2.2% | 7.5% |
| 2021 | 6.1% | 2.2% | 6.5% | 5.5% |
| 2022 | 5.2% | 6.4% | 6.1% | 5.6% |
| 2023 | 3.0% | 2.0% | 9.6% | 3.9% |
| 2024 | 5.3% | 3.9% | 7.0% | 5.4% |
| 2025 | 1.8% | 3.8% | 3.3% | 2.4% |
Employees Growth by Region — Averages (FY2023–FY2025)
| Metric | 3-Year Average (FY2023–FY2025) |
|---|---|
| United States | 3.4% |
| Canada | 3.2% |
| International | 6.6% |
| Worldwide | 3.9% |
Averages cover FY2023–FY2025. Employee counts rounded to nearest whole unit. Mix and growth rounded to one decimal place.
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.
Disclosure
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