Numbers are in thousands.
| US | Canada | Other | Total | |
| 2022 | 202 | 50 | 52 | 304 |
| 2021 | 192 | 47 | 49 | 288 |
| 2020 | 181 | 46 | 46 | 273 |
| 2019 | 167 | 42 | 45 | 254 |
Costco wholesale employed around 288,000 people at the end of the year 2021. The company employed a large majority of its workforce (close to 95%) in its warehouses and distribution channels. The number of employees in the United States was 192,000 in 2021 compared to 181,000 in 2020. The company employed 47,000 people in Canada in 2021 compared to 46,000 in 2020. Costco employed 49,000 people in the other markets in 2021 compared to 46,000 in 2020.
Costco is well known as a passionate employer. The company has created a culture of inclusion and diversity and focuses upon maximizing employee satisfaction. The number of employees at Costco in 2019 reached 254,000 rising from 245,000 in 2018. Out of the total employees working for Costco in 2019, the number of full time employees was 149,000 and that of part time employees was 105,000.
The following table shows the number of Costco employees from 2006 to 2018 including full time and part time.
| Year | Total | Full time | Part time |
| 2018 | 245,000 | 143,000 | 102,000 |
| 2017 | 231000 | 133000 | 98000 |
| 2016 | 218000 | 126000 | 92000 |
| 2015 | 205000 | 117000 | 88000 |
| 2014 | 195000 | 112000 | 83000 |
| 2013 | 184000 | 103000 | 81000 |
| 2012 | 174000 | 96000 | 78000 |
| 2011 | 164000 | 92000 | 72000 |
| 2010 | 147000 | 82000 | 65000 |
| 2009 | 142000 | 79000 | 63000 |
| 2008 | 137000 | 75000 | 62000 |
| 2007 | 127000 | 70000 | 57000 |
| 2006 | 119000 | 66000 | 53000 |
The retail industry has grown highly competitive in the 21st century and to run a retail brand successfully, it needs to have skilled and highly motivated employees. At Costco, the brand has cerated an environment of inclusion and diversity that fosters collaboration. The brand has created a positive work environment that provides al its employees opportunities of growth and advancement. The result is that Costco does not just have an efficient employee base but also one of the lowest turnover rates in the industry. In a Forbes survey in 2017, the brand was recognized as the best large employer in America. Its employee count in 2017 was 231000 of which 133000 were full time and 198000 par time employees. Check out the table above for the number of employees working each year from 2006 to 2017. The retail brand is well known for its generous attitude towards its employees and for excellent work environment.
Sources:
Data sourced from Costco annual reports.