Greetings! Have you ever wondered about the immense scale of Warren Buffett's empire? It's more than just a single company; it's a vast conglomerate with a global footprint. The question of "how many people work for Berkshire Hathaway" is a fascinating one, and the answer is far more complex and impressive than you might think. Let's embark on a journey to uncover the true size of this corporate giant, step by step.
Step 1: Understanding the Berkshire Hathaway Ecosystem
Before we dive into the numbers, let's address a crucial point: Berkshire Hathaway isn't a typical company. It's a holding company, which means it owns a vast collection of other companies, known as subsidiaries. Think of it as a massive umbrella, and under that umbrella are dozens of well-known businesses from various sectors, each with its own workforce. So, when we talk about the number of people working for Berkshire Hathaway, we're not just talking about the small team at the corporate headquarters in Omaha, Nebraska. We're talking about the combined workforce of all its subsidiaries. This is the key to understanding the scale.
It's like asking how many people live in a city. You wouldn't just count the mayor and the city council; you'd count every single resident.
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| How Many People Work For Berkshire Hathaway |
Step 2: Uncovering the Latest Employee Count
Now for the main event! The number of people working for Berkshire Hathaway fluctuates year to year, just like any large company's workforce. Based on the latest available data, here's what we know:
As of fiscal year 2024, Berkshire Hathaway employed a total of 392,400 people.
This is a monumental figure, representing a slight decrease of about 4,100 employees from the previous year (2023), which had a peak of 396,500 employees. This small decline represents a change of -1.03% year-over-year.
Step 3: A Historical Look at the Workforce
To appreciate the growth of this conglomerate, let's look at the employee count over the past decade. It's a testament to the company's continuous expansion and acquisition strategy.
Period | Employees | Year-over-Year Change |
2024 | 392,400 | -1.03% |
2023 QuickTip: Focus on what feels most relevant. | 396,500 | 3.52% |
2022 | 383,000 | 2.96% |
2021 | 372,000 | 3.33% |
2020 | 360,000 | -8.05% |
2019 | 391,500 | 0.64% |
2018 | 389,000 | 3.18% |
2017 QuickTip: Slow scrolling helps comprehension. | 377,000 | 2.53% |
2016 | 367,700 | 11.09% |
2015 | 331,000 | 4.75% |
The numbers tell a story of consistent growth, punctuated by a notable decrease in 2020, likely due to the global economic climate.
Step 4: Breaking Down the Workforce by Subsidiary
This is where the magic of the "holding company" model truly becomes apparent. The vast majority of Berkshire Hathaway's employees don't work for the parent company itself, but for its diverse portfolio of subsidiaries. While a precise, detailed breakdown for every single subsidiary isn't publicly available, we can look at some of the major business segments to understand where the employees are concentrated.
Sub-heading: The Giants of the Group
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BNSF Railway: As one of the largest freight rail networks in North America, BNSF employs tens of thousands of people, from train conductors and engineers to maintenance crews and administrative staff. It's a massive, capital-intensive business that requires a large and skilled workforce.
Berkshire Hathaway Energy: This segment includes utilities and energy companies like PacifiCorp and MidAmerican Energy. The workforce here is responsible for generating, transmitting, and distributing electricity and gas, which is a critical and labor-intensive operation.
GEICO: The well-known insurance company, GEICO, is another major employer within the Berkshire Hathaway family. Its workforce includes a huge number of customer service representatives, claims adjusters, and insurance agents.
McLane Company: This is a leading supply chain services company, providing grocery and food service distribution. It relies on a large workforce of drivers, warehouse personnel, and logistics specialists.
Sub-heading: A Diverse Collection of Businesses
Beyond the giants, Berkshire Hathaway owns a stunning variety of companies, each with its own employee base. This includes:
Manufacturing: Companies like Precision Castparts, Lubrizol, and Johns Manville.
Retail: Businesses such as See's Candies, Dairy Queen, and Nebraska Furniture Mart.
Services: From FlightSafety International to NetJets.
The employees of all these companies, from the person scooping ice cream at Dairy Queen to the engineer designing parts for aerospace, are all part of the larger Berkshire Hathaway workforce.
QuickTip: Slow down when you hit numbers or data.
Step 5: How to Track a Company's Employee Count
If you're interested in keeping tabs on a company's workforce, here's a step-by-step guide:
Check the Company's Financial Filings: For publicly traded companies like Berkshire Hathaway, the most reliable source of information is their official filings with regulatory bodies like the SEC in the United States. Look for their annual report (Form 10-K). You can often find a section dedicated to "Employees" or "Human Capital" that provides the total headcount.
Explore Investor Relations Websites: Companies often have a dedicated "Investor Relations" section on their website. This is where they post their annual reports, quarterly reports, and other investor presentations. These documents are a goldmine for financial and operational data, including employee numbers.
Utilize Business and Financial Data Platforms: Websites and platforms like Macrotrends, Bullfincher, and TradingView track and present key financial data for companies, including historical employee counts. These can be excellent resources for quick access to information and for viewing trends over time.
Leverage Professional Networking Sites: A company's LinkedIn page can provide a good estimate of its employee size, especially for smaller businesses. While it may not capture every single employee, it's a useful tool for getting a general sense of the workforce.
Look for Press Releases and News: Companies may announce major hiring initiatives or workforce changes in their press releases. Setting up Google Alerts for a company can help you stay informed about such news.
10 Related FAQs
How to find the employee count of a specific Berkshire Hathaway subsidiary?
You can often find this information within Berkshire Hathaway's annual reports (10-K) or the individual subsidiary's public filings, if it is a separate public entity. Some subsidiaries may also list their employee count on their own corporate websites or in press releases.
How to invest in Berkshire Hathaway?
You can invest in Berkshire Hathaway through a brokerage account. You would typically buy shares of the Class B stock, which trades under the ticker symbol BRK.B. This class is much more affordable than the Class A stock (BRK.A).
How to apply for a job at Berkshire Hathaway?
To apply for a job, you would typically need to apply directly to the specific subsidiary you are interested in. Since the corporate headquarters has a very small team, most job opportunities are with the individual companies like GEICO, BNSF, or Fruit of the Loom.
How to understand Berkshire Hathaway's corporate structure?
Berkshire Hathaway is a decentralized conglomerate. The parent company provides capital and oversight, but its subsidiaries operate independently with their own management teams. It's a unique structure that allows for autonomy and a wide range of businesses.
Tip: Don’t just scroll to the end — the middle counts too.
How to track Berkshire Hathaway's stock performance?
You can track the stock performance of both BRK.A and BRK.B on any major financial news website or stock market platform by searching for their ticker symbols.
How to read a Berkshire Hathaway annual report?
The annual report, or 10-K, is a public document available on the SEC's EDGAR database and on Berkshire Hathaway's own website. Look for the "Letter to Shareholders" from Warren Buffett, which provides valuable insights, and the "Management Discussion and Analysis" section for operational details.
How to find a list of all Berkshire Hathaway subsidiaries?
A comprehensive list of subsidiaries is typically included as an exhibit in the company's annual report (Form 10-K) filed with the SEC. You can also find lists on financial news websites and Wikipedia.
How to calculate the revenue per employee for Berkshire Hathaway?
You can calculate this by dividing the company's total annual revenue by its total employee count. For 2024, the revenue was approximately $424.23 billion, and the employee count was 392,400. This would give you a revenue per employee of about $1.08 million.
How to contact Berkshire Hathaway's corporate office?
The corporate office is located in Omaha, Nebraska, and contact information is available on the company's official website. However, for most business inquiries, it is recommended to contact the specific subsidiary.
How to find historical employee data for Berkshire Hathaway?
You can find historical employee data in the company's past annual reports (10-K filings) or on financial data platforms like Macrotrends and Bullfincher that archive this information.
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