Defence Department, McDonald's and Walmart top world's biggest employers list...but China is a close second

By Daily Mail Reporter

Last updated at 4:33 PM on 17th September 2011
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The U.S. has three home grown organisations in the top four largest employers in the world, it emerged this week.

According to an Economist survey, the Department of Defence, McDonald's and Walmart employ a staggering seven million people between them, with the DOD alone having 3.2 million on their books.
But while the U.S. dominates the top spots, Chinese companies account for a total of four out of the 10 largest employers, with the People's Liberation Army - who employ 2.3 million - coming in at number two.


U.S. vs China: the two super powers dominate the top 10 list. President Obama is pictured here in front of a Chinese honour guard at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing

The results show that when it comes to employing large numbers of people, governments tend to rule the roost.

COLOSSAL: WORLD'S TOP 10 EMPLOYERS

1. U.S. DOD: 3.2 million

2. Chinese Army: 2.3 million

3. Walmart: 2.1 million

4. China Nat.Petrol Corp: 1.7 million

5. State Grid of China: 1.6 million

6. British NHS: 1.4 million

7. Indian Railways: 1.4 million

8. China Post Group: 0.9 million

9. Hon Hai (Taiwan) : 0.8 million

A dominant seven of the top 10 are government run institutions, with the private sector sluggish at creating employment in the tough economic climate.

As the world's largest employer, the DOD is responsible for paying one per cent of the U.S. population's wages.

Also also on the list is Britain's National Health Service - which accounts for 2.3 percent of the country's population.

The only three private companies on the list comprise of the two U.S. giants Walmart and McDonald's and Taiwan electronics manufacturer Hon Hai - a subsidiary of Foxconn.

The secretive electronics giant - who famously manufacture parts for Apple - has hit the headlines recently after a spate of staff suicides at its plants

In response the company recently announced plans to use the robots for simple assembly line procedures, with some estimates putting the number of replacement machines at up to 1 million.

Interestingly, the number one and two spots are both taken by national armies, with the U.S. DOD's 3.2 million putted against the Chinese army's 2.3 million.


Public vs. Private: Private companies account for just three of top 10 world's largest employers, underscoring the issue of employment in tough economic times

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