Biggest Industries by Employment in Global in 2025

• 1. Global Commercial Real Estate

  Employment number for 2025: 18,348,731

  The Global Commercial Real Estate industry has declined over the past five years. Specifically, investor confidence slightly declined over the same period as COVID-19 severely constricted demand. As a result, industry revenue is expected to slightly decline an annualized 2.5% to $4.3 trillion over the five years to 2023, including an anticipated increase of 1.6% in 2023 as the economy recovers from the coronavirus pandemic.

  The growth of a country's economy tends to boost industry reven...

  Learn More

• 2. Global Fast Food Restaurants

  Employment number for 2025: 12,691,365

  The global fast food industry has seen its fortunes rise steadily, with a projected annualized growth rate of 2.7%, increasing its revenue to an impressive $1.1 trillion over the last five years up to 2024. This success is largely due to the rise in disposable income, enabling consumers to indulge in dining out. This is supported by steady and consistent demand from emerging markets, whose unique contribution has bolstered the industry's overall performance.

  Desp...

  Learn More

• 3. Global Hotels & Resorts

  Employment number for 2025: 11,165,321

  Over the past five years, the Global Hotels and Resorts industry has expanded. The current period started with a pandemic-low revenue level. As business and travel activities gradually resumed, industry revenue surpassed the pre-pandemic level in 2023. However, rising inflation following the pandemic and geopolitical tensions depressed the potential revenue growth. Further, stringent fatal aviation accidents and potential tariff war further deteriorate consumer confidence, inducing them to pu...

  Learn More

• 4. Global Consumer Electronics Manufacturing

  Employment number for 2025: 11,124,405

  Consumer electronics producers have endured moderate volatility in recent years. Producers have somewhat benefited from shifts in consumer behavior, with the growing popularity of entertainment in audio form, like podcasts, driving demand for new audio equipment. Similarly, smart TVs have become more popular amid the fast adoption of streaming services, as many of these have streaming apps integrated into their software. Manufacturers developing products that adapt to changing consumer needs ...

  Learn More

• 5. Global HR & Recruitment Services

  Employment number for 2025: 10,937,141

  HR and recruitment companies rely on a businesses' desire to outsource their recruitment process and human resource management activities. Regulation, especially for temporary employees, can hamstring providers, as this makes it more difficult to operate. More liberal labor laws in developed nations have been essential to HR and recruitment companies' growth. Large companies are now focusing on emerging markets that will undergo the same process in the future. COVID-19 temporarily put a halt ...

  Learn More

• 6. Global Apparel Manufacturing

  Employment number for 2025: 9,636,877

  Global apparel manufacturers have benefited from strengthening consumer spending in developed and rapidly growing emerging economies in recent years. However, sudden changes in how consumers shopped worldwide following the COVID-19 pandemic shifted its trajectory. Dips in global consumer spending and lockdowns dropped production at factories. Even as economies reopened, bottlenecks and supply chain woes punctured footwear production globally, while rising costs for everything from cotton to c...

  Learn More

• 7. Global Auto Parts & Accessories Manufacturing

  Employment number for 2025: 9,610,000

  Global auto parts and accessories manufacturers produce a wide range of necessary inputs ranging from braking and electronic systems to airbags and alternators for motor vehicle manufacturers and aftermarkets. Manufacturers displayed uneven growth through the current period, marked by the pandemic, rampant inflation and higher interest rates across much of the world. Conversely, pent-up demand for driving and rising disposable incomes, especially in emerging economies, have driven strong grow...

  Learn More

• 8. Global Engineering Services

  Employment number for 2025: 8,511,208

  The Global Engineering Services industry has expanded alongside a recovery of markets worldwide, prompting new investment that has fueled projects across key markets including the United States, Europe and East Asia. The economic environment has enabled downstream industries to invest in ventures involving engineering services, with higher production levels in OECD countries translating to new facilities, factories and other structures. Despite ongoing inflationary pressures, public sector in...

  Learn More

• 9. Global Plastic Product & Packaging Manufacturing

  Employment number for 2025: 7,812,343

  The global plastic parts and packaging industry continues to face potential volatility. Trade uncertainties due to tariffs, particularly involving the US, Mexico, Canada, and China, are creating cost pressures for manufacturers who must consider pricing adjustments or supply chain realignments. Shifts in petrochemical prices further complicates cost management, pushing companies to explore alternative materials to stabilize input costs. Meanwhile, e-commerce growth has driven higher dem...

  Learn More

• 10. Global Commercial Banks

  Employment number for 2025: 7,270,342

  The industry closely follows global economic performance since demand for loans is heavily influenced by business and consumer confidence as well as the level of activity that requires financing. The strong global economic performance fueled by the United States and emerging markets, such as China and South East Asia, are expected to improve from increased aggregate private investment, which has supported loan origination. Although Global Commercial Banks revenue has lagged at a CAGR of 0.1% ...

  Learn More