You Won’t Believe the Sheer Number of Employees in Google

How many employees work at Google? As of the end of 2023, Google employs a massive workforce of 182,502 full-time employees. This figure represents the total number of individuals working directly for Google, a subsidiary of Alphabet.

That’s enough people to fill up Salt Lake City, Utah!  It’s not just the sheer number of employees that’s impressive; it’s also the diversity of roles and responsibilities they hold. From software engineers and data scientists to marketers and salespeople, Google employees are responsible for a wide range of tasks that keep the company running smoothly.

Key Takeaways

• Google currently has an employee base of over 182,502 employees. Average yearly employee compensation is $140,774, and average employee tenure is 3.4 years. This emphasizes its role as an aggressive and competitive, though desirable, employer in the tech industry.
• In recent years, Google has made a concerted effort to grow its employee base. This expansion is intentionally tied to key sectors including cloud computing, artificial intelligence, and global market expansion. Economic realities have played an outsize role in its recruitment patterns too.
• In fact, Google’s leadership team has a surprising amount of influence in creating the inclusive, innovative culture Google is known for. Leadership changes and diversity initiatives have recently sought to improve decision-making and employee engagement at every level.
• Google’s workforce distribution is illustrative of what the company values. Major departments such as engineering, product management, and sales are leading the charge as the primary forces behind innovation and growth. The concentration on tech-heavy roles further highlights the company’s focus on leading innovation and development.
• Google is clearly trying to make their commitment to diversity more than just talk. As of now 60% of the employees are males and only 40% are females. Ethnic representation at Google indicates a high percentage of Asian and White employees with continuing efforts to ensure inclusivity and balance.
• Google provides strong benefits for their employees, including full health insurance and wellness initiatives. It’s these other, more unique perqs that drive employee satisfaction through the roof. Such offerings provide a strong future-facing competitive advantage in talent attraction and retention.

How Many People Work At Google?

The big G is no doubt a tech giant employing 182,502 employees, a mind-boggling number that only tells half the story. That figure accounts only for full-time employees—excluding their massive network of temporary workers and contractors.

To put this in context, as of March 2019, Google employed more than 121,000 temporary and contract workers on top of their 100,000+ full-time employees. This is indicative of the staggering scale of Google’s operations. It makes clear the need for a diverse workforce in moving its projects forward.

Google has a reputation for paying talent very well — and their average salary of $140,774 per year proves it. Employees have an average tenure of just 3.4 years. This means that they strike the best balance between opportunities to build a career and the rapid-paced tech world.

Microsoft is also “highly profitable” according to Microsoft, with a workforce of more than 220,000 employees. In comparison, Apple only has about 164,000 employees, leaving Google well positioned competitively.

In the past, Google had a relatively modest beginning with 284 employees in 2001 to a massive growth of 24,400 in 2010. By 2017, the headcount had exploded to 88,110 employees.

In Q1 of 2024, it reached its high point of 180,895, but then saw a slight drop to 179,582 in Q2. Today, this same workforce is still 65.9% male, while women make up 34.1% of the workforce.

Timeline of Google’s Employee Count

Google’s meteoric rise as an enterprise is evident in its rapidly-increasing employee base. The company launched in 1998 with just a handful of employees. During that period as an alternative to Facebook in its infancy, it grew like gangbusters and hired at an even faster pace than Facebook.

Just three years later, by 2001, Google had 284 employees. Over the following decade, this number surged to 24,400, an increase of about 24,200 employees. The company’s innovative products—most notably Google Search, AdWords, and Gmail—accelerated this boom. In truth, they needed bigger teams to successfully scale their operations.

A big jump occurred in 2012 when Google purchased Motorola Mobility, creating a one-time spike in headcount. As of 2017, Google had 88,110 employees. That’s notable, especially as the growth comes amid the company’s continued push into hardware, cloud services and artificial intelligence.

Today in 2023 Google has 182,502 full-time employees, a 64,161% increase since 2001.

Diversity has been a top-down priority for Google since the company’s inception. According to its most recent EEO-1 report, 65.9% of its employees are male and 34.1% are female. All of this, of course, gets massively complicated by economic factors—global recessions and tech booms make a huge difference in hiring practices.

Giant strategic acquisitions have a nasty habit of causing huge spikes in employee counts.

Where Google Is Placing Its Bets

Google’s current big bets are on cloud computing and AI. These areas are key to its future long-term success. Through Google Cloud, cloud computing allows businesses to access, store and analyze billions of data points more easily and securely.

Specifically AI—especially generative AI—has taken center stage as Google stacks up against rivals Microsoft, Meta, and Amazon in this new frontier. More than just riding the wave of change, these technologies are profound, tectonic shifts in the way entire industries will work. AI tools, such as Google’s Bard, are revolutionizing how businesses interact with customers and improving healthcare diagnostics.

What’s more, they’re shaking up traditional creative industries too. Such investments offer a glimpse of Google’s determination to maintain its lead in future innovation.

These innovations have a direct effect on Google’s hiring plans. Currently employing 182,502 employees globally, it’s important to recruit talent that specializes in data science, AI engineering, and software development. We’re especially impressed by Google’s move to make technical education more accessible through training programs such as its six-month career certificates, eliminating barriers to entry for would-be recruits.

This strategy plays into Google’s larger do-gooder ethos by providing a low-cost education alternative. Employee development is still of utmost importance, making sure the workforce is prepared to work with new technologies as they develop.

Innovation fuels both workforce development and corporate expansion. Projects like Mineral, which helps farmers adopt more sustainable agriculture practices, are a reflection of Google’s larger goals. This strategy increases employee happiness and establishes a culture of purpose and progress, underscored by an astonishing 190% revenue growth in Other Bets.

The Executive Team at Google

Google’s executive team is a highly powerful group of leaders who fuel the company’s vision and direction. Sundar Pichai, who became CEO in 2015, is responsible for Google’s overall strategy and innovation, since Larry Page moved to focus leading Alphabet. CFO Ruth Porat oversees a fiscal policy that has long fostered Google’s expansion.

Since 2018, Senior Vice President of Knowledge & Information Prabhakar Raghavan has been instrumental in setting the course for search technologies. Their complementary backgrounds are a recipe for operational excellence and cutting-edge development. Eric Schmidt, who served as CEO from 2001 through 2011, was instrumental in cementing Google’s stranglehold on the tech industry.

His leadership at Google laid an unprecedented foundation for the company’s success. Leadership has a profound effect on Google’s workplace culture, cultivating innovation with programs such as Innovation Time Off, a program that Marissa Mayer supported.

This program resulted in other major breakthroughs, including one-half of all new product introductions by the end of 2005. Leadership decisions have motivated employee activism, including the 2018 global walk-out over workplace policy.

Having a more diverse executive team helps inform decision-making by providing a broader range of perspectives, but obstacles remain. Events such as antitrust inquiries or the Facebook and Google scandals demonstrate the urgency of fair and impartial governance.

With recent leadership changes, it’s worth considering how these executives can foster progress while still ensuring accountability.

Google Workforce by Department

Some of the main departments include:

• Engineering and Technology: Approximately 100,000 employees
• Sales and Marketing: Around 40,000 employees
• Operations and Support: Close to 25,000 employees
• Product Management: Roughly 15,000 employees
• Research and Development (R&D): About 10,000 employees
• Human Resources (HR) and Legal: Around 8,000 employees

This distribution of employees is indicative of Google’s priorities. Engineering and Technology are the company’s biggest divisions. This is a natural extension of their stated goal of building and nurturing a competitive ecosystem of innovation engines such as Google Search, YouTube and Android.

Sales and Marketing is the next largest group at Google. They prove out just how essential advertising is, generating nearly 85% of the company’s revenue.

Departments like R&D and Product Management are key to innovation. Our R&D teams are currently developing projects in AI and quantum computing. In fact, their work is helping to determine what Google will be offering in the future.

In the background, HR and Legal teams work to keep internal operations running smoothly and in compliance. Together, these departments are the engine behind Google’s growth, from the technical innovation to the expansion into worldwide markets.

Every team plays a part in helping Google remain the technological and innovative powerhouse that it is today.

Google Workforce By Gender and Department

Looking under the hood at Google’s workforce, we see that gender representation across departments reveals some stark discrepancies. Here’s a breakdown:

That table paints a very male-dominated picture, particularly in the engineering workforce, where three-quarters of those employees are men. This is consistent with the tech industry at large and highlights where we can still do better.

Among management and support roles, though, we see a more favorable balance. The gap in engineering underscores the imperative to be more inclusive.

Google’s male workforce is 60%, and women account for 40% of the workforce. While this ratio is an indicator of tremendous progress compared to recent decades, it highlights the lack of progress in closing the gender gap.

A larger male presence can limit the contributions of varied perspectives. This limitation is most clearly felt in creative problem-solving, where diverse perspectives lead to better, more innovative solutions.

To bridge these gaps, Google has launched programs such as Women Techmakers and Code Camps for Girls. These programs and others are helping to encourage young women to explore STEM professions and offer them mentorship and guidance.

These types of efforts don’t just advance equity; they are key to building a more inclusive, equitable, and collaborative workplace.

Gender diversity is critical to creating an environment that promotes collaboration and innovation. In addition to fostering mutual respect and greater communication, a more balanced workforce ultimately creates better outcomes for investors and employees.

Google Workforce By Ethnicity and Department

Google’s workforce reflects the country’s increasing diversity, with a wealth of ethnic backgrounds represented. Employees by Ethnicity Recent data shows that roughly 42% of employees are White, 33% are Asian, 8% are Hispanic and 5% are Black. Even smaller percentages account for Hispanic or Latino ethnicity and Black or African American that identify with two or more races.

The numbers vary widely between their departments. Technical teams usually have a higher percent of Asian employees, and then non-technical roles have higher rates of other groups. Such a breakdown further highlights the complexity of diversity across different areas of the company.

Cultural diversity goes beyond the numbers. It’s a crucial engine for powering creativity and driving solutions to 21st century challenges. Multi-faceted teams are better at looking at issues from different angles and having varied perspectives that diverse teams are proven to have.

In product development, the more diverse the cultural backgrounds are that contribute input, the more product creativity is ignited. This in turn leads to more inclusive and globally relevant solutions. That diversity is a proven driver of innovation, an essential ingredient in Google’s success.

From the public eye, Google has taken impressive steps to be more inclusive. They instead prioritize diversity with initiatives such as targeted outreach programs. They hold themselves accountable by partnering with organizations that advocate for underrepresented groups and publicly sharing diversity metrics.

These efforts not only seek to address existing gaps, but to foster a culture where all people feel valued. Ethnic diversity has a dramatic effect on team culture and cohesion. Diverse teams tend to have better communication skills and empathy which in turn leads to better collaboration.

Employee Benefits and Perks at Google

That’s because they value personal and professional well-being. Their comprehensive health insurance, a cornerstone of their benefits, covers employees, spouses and dependents and has an annual deductible of $1,000. This gives families peace of mind while encouraging them to seek out high quality care.

To help promote financial well-being, Google offers a strong 401(k) matching plan. Contributions are dollar for dollar matched up to $3,000, then 50% up to $8,250, providing valuable long-term retirement savings.

Flexibility is the second major point. Employees benefit from four “work from anywhere” weeks per year, allowing them to better accommodate personal responsibilities or work from new locations. A three-month sabbatical allows people to follow their passions away from work.

For creativity, Google’s 20% time policy allows employees to dedicate time to side projects. Google’s innovative benefits, such as onsite fitness centers and gym memberships, further emphasize the tech giant’s focus on health.

Stock options and RSUs further align incentives by tying them to the company’s success. These benefits increase overall job satisfaction by over 30 percent. They serve to further position Google as a leader in attracting and retaining top talent.

Career Development Opportunities at Google

To support employee growth, Google has a variety of career development programs that focus on professional and personal development. These are mentorship programs, leadership development, technical skill-building workshops, and certification courses. Employees reap the rewards, too, with the Google Career Certificates giving them the skills they need to earn in-demand, industry-recognized credentials.

Initiatives such as Google Cloud’s Autism Career Program and Skills Ignition in Singapore focus on building inclusive, tech-ready environments. The company provides resources like Grow with Google and collaborations with institutions such as HBCUs and HSIs to support diverse talent.

Continuous learning is essential in the fast-paced tech industry, where rapid innovation requires you to have the most current skills. Google supports continuous education with offerings like their courses on artificial intelligence & data analytics. This focus on learning allows employees to improve their skills and create the careers and long-term opportunities they desire in the fast-evolving field of technology.

Additionally, Google has worked to empower employees through mentorship and training, putting them in contact with experienced professionals who can offer support. Business leaders collaborate to create training sessions that teach both technical and soft skills to develop clear career paths.

Our new Apprenticeship Program, for instance, has allowed more than 90% of apprentices to transition into meaningful roles in record time. Success stories go a long way in demonstrating the positive impact of these small yet effective initiatives. Many of our employees have moved from entry-level roles into leadership positions, proving that Google’s investment in career development works.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many employees work at Google?

As of 2023, Google has over 182,502 people around the world. This figure counts full-time employees in every department, from education to public works.

How has Google’s employee count changed over time?

Google’s workforce has exploded since its founding in 1998. From a handful of employees it ballooned to more than 100,000 by 2018 and shows no indication of slowing growth.

Where does Google focus its hiring efforts?

Google is betting big on technology, artificial intelligence, cloud computing, advertising. These areas are where the vast majority of hiring activity is concentrated, a clear indication of the company’s strategic priorities.

How diverse is Google’s workforce by gender?

According to Google, about a third of its 148,000 global employees are women. We appreciate the company’s commitment to increasing diversity, including through the recruitment process, and inclusion efforts.

What benefits does Google offer its employees?

Google is known to offer very generous benefits, including health insurance, retirement plans, free meals, on-site wellness programs and generous parental leave. Employees benefit from amenities such as on-site gyms and career development training.

What career development opportunities does Google provide?

Google provides thousands of employees with executive education and leadership training, advanced training programs and mentorship opportunities. Employees have the opportunity to develop in their current roles, as well as discover new career options.

How does Google support diversity in its workforce?

Google has been tracking and publishing its workforce diversity data for a number of years now. It takes bold action to not only hire, but retain employees from underrepresented groups, creating a truly inclusive work environment.