Samsung Electronics Has 320,671 Workers on Payroll Worldwide

Samsung Electronics increased the number of employees around the world last year, but carried out restructuring of organizations and personnel for business efficiency in China, the Middle East, and Africa.

According to Samsung Electronics' "2018 Sustainability Report" released on June 15, the electronics giant had a total of 320,671 employees around the world including Korea as of the end of 2017, up 3.9% from the end of the previous year (308,745).

It is less than the 325,677 in 2015 when the size of the company’s workforce peaked, but it is on the rise again in one year.

By region, the number of workers in Korea totaled 96,458, up 3.5 percent, while that of overseas workers reached 224,213, an increase of 4 percent.

In particular, Samsung’s employees in Southeast Asia, Southwest Asia and Japan increased 8.3 percent last year to rise to an all time high of 145,577.

China, on the other hand, saw a decrease of 6%, to 34,843, and the Middle East and Africa also had a decrease of 7.8% and 19.7%, to 2,592 and 676, respectively. Samsung workers in America and Europe (including CIS) were similar to the previous year at 25,814 and 14,711, respectively.

As of late last year, the number of countries Samsung Electronics has entered totaled 73, which is lower than the previous year by six.

The proportion of female workers among all employees was 45%, up 1% point from the end of the previous year. In particular, female managers (13%) and executives (7%) rose to the highest ratios ever.

Samsung operated 15 regional headquarters in Korea, North America, Africa, and Southeast Asia. It was found to have 55 production sites; 35 R&D centers; seven design centers; and 66 other facilities (including stores and warranty service centers).

In addition, R&D expenses totaled 16.8 trillion won last year, a 13.8 percent increase from the previous year (14.8 trillion won).