How Google's workforce growth compares to rivals' headcounts

Google has revealed that the completition of the acquisition of Motorola has almost doubled its workforce, rising from 33,077 on 31 March, 2012 to a whopping 54,604 as of June 30, 2012.

The firm has certainly come a long way from its start-up roots in the 1990s, with recently departed veteran Marrisa Mayer famously the twentieth member of the firm.

The rise means Google continues its rise as one of the industry's biggest firms by employees, although as our list shows, it still has some way to go to overtake other industry stalwarts.

1. IBM: Around 450,000 (as of January 2012)

The clear leader, the firm is closing in on half-a-million full-time staff, based on information given by the firm's chief information officer at its Lotusphere event in 2012 attended by V3.

2. HP: Around 350,000 employees (as of 2011)

While the firm has seen new additions from the likes of Autonomy and the loss of some 27,000 jobs announced earlier this year HP remains one of the biggest employees in the industry.

3. Oracle: 115,116 (as of June 2012)

Enterprise software specialists Oracle outdoes the likes of Apple and Google in terms of staff, employing approximately 115,116 workers around the globe.

4. Intel: 100,100 (as of February 2012)

Intel hires a rather binary 100,100 employees, outstripping the number of staff working for the likes of Microsoft, as the company's revenues continue to balloon.

5. Microsoft: Around 90,000 (as of 2011)

Despite posting its first loss yesterday due to its high-profile aQuantive write-off, Microsoft is home to 90,000 staff across the globe, thousands more than its main rivals

6. Cisco: 65,223 (as of 2012)

Cisco employees 65,223 staff, split over 165 countries across the world in over 475 offices.

7. Apple: 60,400 (as of September 2011)

Apple employs 60,400 full-time staff, 30,000 less than Microsoft, although the company has another 2,900 temporary employees and contractors.

8. Google: 54,604 (as of June 2012)

As noted, the completion of the acquisition of Motorola has seen the firm's workforce rocket towards 55,000, a far cry from its start-up days.

9. Facebook: 3,200 (as of December 2011)

The firm, worth around $60bn, is one of the smallest firms in terms of employee size, despite being one of the biggest global brands, with an SEC filing revealing just 3,200 staff are at the firm as of the end of 2011.

10. Twitter:  1,000 (as of July 2012)

Twitter confirmed to V3 that it now boasts 1,000 employees based at locations across the world.

Note: Figures are accurate from recent SEC filings and widespread reports but may not be up to date.