Managers Reign Supreme in the American Workforce

Written By Lewis Lin

Optimize team management in minutes with ManageBetter. Start your free trial now and join Uber and Microsoft in boosting performance, gathering insights, and generating reviews—all AI-powered, no writing required.

An employment breakdown by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reveals a striking insight about the American labor force - managers outnumber workers in any other major occupational group. Out of an estimated 164.5 million employed Americans in 2022, a staggering 12.6 million held management occupations.

The Data Highlights

  • Management occupations topped the list with 12.6 million employed

  • Business and financial operations roles came second with 10.6 million

  • Healthcare practitioners and technical occupations were third at 9.5 million employed

What This Means

  • Managers form the largest workforce segment across U.S. organizations and industries

  • Their pivotal role of planning, directing, and coordinating operations is represented by their sheer numbers

Sharpen Your Leadership Edge: Join 3,000+ executives receiving weekly, actionable insights from industry experts. Subscribe free to The Thoughtful Leader and elevate your team's performance.

Lewis Lin
Previous

The Linchpin: Managers Impact 22% of Results
Next

The 4-Step Reframe: How to Turn Harsh Feedback to Helpful