One or more embodiments characterize workloads in a data warehouse system. A set of accounting data associated with a data warehouse system comprising at least one database is collected. A set of query concurrency information associated with the database is determined determining based on the set of accounting data. The set of query concurrency information identifies a plurality of queries executed on the database simultaneously and a duration of this execution. A set of processor utilization distribution information associated with the plurality of queries is determined based on the set of accounting data. A set of data access information indicating a quantity of data accessed by each query in the plurality of queries is determined. A workload profile associated with the database is generated based on the set of query concurrency information, the set of processor utilization distribution information, and the set of data access information.