Top 5 Employers in Arizona: Which Companies Have the Most Jobs?

The healthcare industry is taking its place among the top employers in Arizona. The Bureau of Labor Statistics calls it the major industry in the state — indeed, throughout the Southwest — though The Arizona Republic still lists retail chains as the Nos. 1 and 3 job creators in the state.

Here are The Arizona Republic’s rankings for the top five employers in the state.


1. Wal-Mart Stores Inc.

Employees in 2013: 31,837

Employees in 2014: 32,438

Wal-Mart does not distinguish between full- and part-time employees, according to the Arizona Republic listing. According to Wal-Mart, the retail giant employs more than 1.3 million people at 5,044 locations nationwide, including Wal-Mart Supercenters, discount stores, Sam’s Clubs, and other smaller stores. It lists 123 retail locations in Arizona employing 32,373 people.

2. Banner Health

Employees in 2013: 28,011

Employees in 2014: 30,021

Banner, based in Phoenix, Arizona, operates 25 hospitals and other related services in seven states. The company employs 39,000 employees and claims to be the second-largest private employer in Arizona and northern Colorado. Banner Health Network has more than 300,000 members.


3. Kroger Co.

Employees in 2013: 18,000

Employees in 2014: 17,001 (17,588 according to the company)

Kroger operates in Arizona as Fry’s Food Stores and Fry’s Marketplace. The Ohio-based grocery chain operates 2,631 grocery retail stores in 34 states under about 24 names. It also operates convenience stores and jewelry stores. The Arizona Republic ranking notes Kroger does not distinguish between full- and part-time employees. The Fry’s stores include 123 food stores and two jewelry stores in Arizona, employing 17,588 people.


4. Albertsons Inc.

Employees in 2013: 15,630

Employees in 2014: 16,148

Albertsons has more than 600 stores with more than 60,000 employees. The company, founded in 1939, was broken up and its assets sold to three companies, but the company in 2006 reacquired the assets that had been sold to Super-Valu. In 2014, Albertsons acquired Safeway Stores for $9.2 billion, according to the Los Angeles Daily News website.

5. Wells Fargo

Employees in 2013: 14,965

Employees in 2014: 15,323

Started in 1852 to buy gold, sell paper bank drafts, and deliver valuables as fast as possible, the company claims $1.6 trillion in assets, providing banking, insurance, investments, mortgage, and finance through more than 8,700 locations, 12,500 automated teller machines, and online and mobile devices. In Arizona, Wells Fargo accounts for 183 banks and 546 ATMs in the state.

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