Biggest Industries by Employment in United States in 2026

• 1. Public Schools in the US

  Employment number for 2026: 6,984,374

  Public schools have managed to maintain revenue growth despite significant shifts in funding, enrollment and parental preferences. Class sizes are shrinking every year as birth rates drop and the high school retention rate stagnates, straining revenue as smaller schools see lessened funding from governments. Public schools have contended with heightened competition from alternative education options, especially homeschooling and private institutions, as parents seek mor...

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• 2. Hospitals in the US

  Employment number for 2026: 6,016,085

  Hospitals play a critical role in healthcare, providing specialized treatments and emergency services that are essential for public health, regardless of economic fluctuations or individuals' financial situations. Rising incomes have driven recent growth, expanded insurance access and strategic consolidation that strengthens market position. Consolidation has reduced the number of independent hospitals, allowing larger systems to leverage economies of scale, while smaller, independent hospita...

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• 3. Fast Food Restaurants in the US

  Employment number for 2026: 4,924,339

  While shifting consumer preferences and a crowded foodservice landscape, fast food restaurants have maintained a steady pace of growth. Over the five years to 2025, industry revenue has expanded at a CAGR of 3.7%, reaching $412.7 billion. Notably, 2025 alone will experience a 1.1% increase in revenue. The trend towards fast casual dining has bolstered the industry, helping fast food chains hold their ground amid fierce competition.

  As health awareness continues t...

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• 4. Commercial Real Estate in the US

  Employment number for 2026: 4,209,234

  The Commercial Real Estate (CRE) industry is exhibiting significant variations across markets, with persistently high office vacancy rates juxtaposed against thriving prime office spaces. Hard hit by the widespread adoption of remote and hybrid work models, the overall office vacancy rate rose to 20.7% in Q2 2025, up from the pre-pandemic rate of 16.8%. However, leasing volumes for prime office spaces are climbing, providing opportunities for seasoned investors. On the other hand, the multifa...

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• 5. Office Staffing & Temp Agencies in the US

  Employment number for 2026: 3,623,967

  The Office Staffing and Temp Agencies industry has thrived by offering agile staffing solutions to corporate clients, despite a volatile economic environment. In the aftermath of labor market disruptions brought on by the pandemic, the economy bounced back quickly. Amid a tight labor market, businesses turned to temp agencies to help fill recruitment gaps, producing consecutive years of record growth. However, as inflationary concerns picked up and the Federal Reserve raised interest rates to...

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• 6. Professional Employer Organizations in the US

  Employment number for 2026: 3,348,648

  Professional employer organizations (PEOs) have fared with volatility in recent years. The labor market quickly recovered from the pandemic and the unemployment rate has hovered near record low levels, intensifying competition for talent. PEOs have been essential in a market where many companies struggled to staff up, while also helping businesses implement strategies to reduce attrition. At the same time, elevated interest rates in response to inflation have constrained growth among critical...

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• 7. Colleges & Universities in the US

  Employment number for 2026: 3,200,876

  Endowment returns for universities skyrocketed at the start of the current period but have since tapered off. Booming private equity and hedge fund activity brought private nonprofit universities a staggering 683.6% leap in investment returns in 2021. In contrast, public universities, which typically hold smaller endowments invested more in US equities and fixed-income assets, experienced more modest gains. Inflation and rising interest rates later reversed the boom for...

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• 8. Couriers & Local Delivery Services in the US

  Employment number for 2026: 3,107,718

  Courier and local delivery service providers benefited from higher e-commerce demand, digital transformation and evolving consumer expectations for faster, more convenient delivery options. E-commerce sales climbed 5.6% year-over-year in 2026. This pushed businesses to invest heavily in same-day delivery capabilities, real-time tracking systems and premium services that generate higher revenue per parcel. Intense competition from retail giants like Amazon and Walmart ha...

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• 9. Single Location Full-Service Restaurants in the US

  Employment number for 2026: 2,899,763

  Despite the volatile economic climate in the last five years, the Single-Location, Full-Service Restaurant industry has displayed resilience and adaptability. Unprecedented challenges associated with the economic recovery post-pandemic introduced significant shifts in consumer behavior early in the period and many in the industry received government assistance to weather them. This was followed by robust domestic economic growth and increased consumer spending in recent years, which fueled th...

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• 10. Supermarkets & Grocery Stores in the US

  Employment number for 2026: 2,881,409

  Supermarkets and grocery stores have spent the last five years grappling with turbulence. Despite steep jumps in food-at-home prices, true topline growth remained elusive as inflation-driven gains were quickly offset by volume declines and periods of nominal revenue contraction. Many grocers found themselves locked in a battle to defend sales amid subdued consumer demand, intense price sensitivity and the lasting competitive resurgence of restaurants and meal delivery. Throughout these years,...

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