Major Employers

Birmingham's largest private employers confirm the economic diversification of the area. Three major employers-American Cast Iron Pipe Company, Alabama Gas and BE&K-were included in the 1997 edition of Fortune magazine's The 100 Best Companies to Work for in America.

2000 Top Ten Private Employers

  • BellSouth - 6,300

  • Baptist Health System - 6,000

  • Bruno's, Inc. - 5,374

  • Wal Mart - 3,800

  • AmSouth Bank - 3,094

  • Alabama Power - 3,000

  • Blue Cross-Blue Shield - 2,700

  • Compass Bank - 2,666

  • American Cast Iron Pipe Co. - 2,3000

The University of Alabama at Birmingham became the top employer in the four-county area during the 1980s. UAB now employs more than 15,000 and its payroll pumps more than $607 million annually into the area's economy. UAB is also the single largest employer in the state. Various other government entities are the next largest area employers, as shown below.

2000 Largest Government Employers

  • UAB - 15,625

  • United States Government - 9,302

  • Jefferson County and Board of Education - 9,191

  • City of Birmingham and Birmingham Board of Education - 9,055

  • State of Alabama - 6,372