Second place goes to the Chinese military, the People's Liberation Army (PLA), with forces numbering 2.3 million.
Third is the US supermarket chain Walmart, which employs 2.1 million staff, almost 200,000 of whom work for the Asda supermarket chain in the UK. (Now I understand how the young teenage boy I blogged about two days ago could have camped out for 4 days in one of these massive American stores.)
Forth place goes to another food chain, McDonald's, who employ 1.9 million. Although 80% of the restaurants are franchised, the employees all wear the uniform.
Then comes the National Health Service (NHS) in England, right now at the centre of a big political row about its reform, the fifth largest, with 1.7 million workers across England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. Considering the size of the small island compared to other massive countries, that's incredible.
Sixth place goes to China National Petroleum Corporation, who employ 1.6 million, followed by State Grid Corporation of China, Indian Railways, Indian Armed Forces, and finally, at number 10, Hon Hai Precision Industry (Foxconn).
See the BBC article here. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-17429786
My first jobs were in reception. After I married, I set up a craft shop in the front of our historical home in Robe, South Australia. Although I've worked in a many different places since then, restaurants, canteens, shops, private homes etc., I've never been employed for a large company.
I'd love to know how working for one of these large employers rates against working for a small business or self-employment.