Any Heidi Klum fan knows that in fashion, you’re either in, or you’re out. That’s true for workplaces, too.
While workers once fawned over sexy tech companies like Meta and Google, Glassdoor’s 16th annual list of Best Places to Work shows those in more vintage industries like finance and consulting are hot right now.
How it works. The Best Places to Work list is based on Glassdoor reviews of companies with more than 1,000 employees submitted between October 2022 and October 2023. Workers rate employers, using a five-star scale, on overall employee satisfaction, as well as the pros and cons of their job, like compensation, culture, DE&I, and work-life balance.
In and out. When Westworld was hitting its stride in the streaming world in 2018, Meta, Google, and HubSpot were among the top 10 places to work.
Fast-forward to 2024, and the top 10 looks quite different. Google has fallen to #26, while Meta and HubSpot aren’t even in the top 100. Tech companies still account for 60% of the top 10, but alongside them are consulting and financial firms.
The top 10:
- Bain & Company (4.8 stars)
- Nvidia (4.7)
- ServiceNow (4.6)
- MathWorks (4.6)
- Procore Technologies (4.6)
- In-N-Out Burger (4.6)
- VMware (4.5)
- Deltek (4.5)
- 2020 Companies (4.5)
- Fidelity Investments (4.5)
“The tech industry is losing some of its luster that it’s had for the last decade or so,” Daniel Zhao, Glassdoor’s chief economist, told HR Brew. “In its place, you are seeing some of the old guard with companies in consulting and finance increasingly making a comeback on the list.”
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Zhao noted that the dominance of consulting firm Bain or tech company Nvidia isn’t necessarily the result of them doing anything different for employees, but rather them doubling down on their commitment to culture and employee experience. In fact, both claimed spots in the top three in 2021 and 2022. Employees also gravitate to these companies, he said, because they’re reliable. “[Employees] know what to expect going into the company.”
Sectors aside, a couple of themes came out of this year’s report. For instance, many of the top 100 companies are starting to upskill employees so they’re prepared for AI, Zhao said, and others offer employees opportunity for growth.
“New entrants to the labor market can really hone their skills and get their feet wet in a lot of different areas,” he explained, pointing to consultancies as an example. “That has been something that’s always been attractive about the consulting industry and something that remains a strength for them compared to other employers on this list.”
Who will make next year’s list? If peplum tops can make a comeback, we guess anything is possible.