These Are The Best Employers In RI, Forbes Says In New Ranking

RHODE ISLAND — Five companies, colleges, and other employers headquartered in Rhode Island are among America’s Best Employers By State ranked by Forbes,

“These aren’t the best large or midsize employers nationally, but a deeper look at which companies are closer-to-home options for every American worker,” Forbes said with the release of its fifth annual ranking Tuesday.

The top five Rhode Island employers on the list are:

1. Brown University in Providence, founded 1764, President Christina Paxson

2. Lincoln-based Amica, an insurance company founded in 1907 and now employing 3,510 people; CEO Robert DiMuccio.

3. The University of Rhode Island in Kingston, founded in 192 and now employing 3,799 people; President Marc Parlange.

4. The State of Rhode Island's government, founded in 1636 from its colonial days; Gov. Dan McKee.

5. Providence-based Care New England, a health care company, founded in 1996 and now employing 7,750 people; CEO Michael Wagner.

A full list of the organizations that made the list is found on Forbes. To be considered, they had to have at least 500 employees nationwide. Forbes and its data partner Statista surveyed workers in all 50 states and the District of Columbia.

The survey questions reflect a recent Pew Research Center survey that showed only about half of workers nationwide are extremely or very satisfied with their jobs. Work satisfaction and compensation are closely tied, and workers with higher incomes tended to like their jobs more than lower-income workers, the survey found.

“We found an interesting disconnect in terms of how workers are experiencing their jobs,” Kim Parker, Pew’s director of social trends research, told Forbes. “Most say they are highly satisfied with the human side of work — their relationships with their coworkers and supervisor. They are much less satisfied with their compensation and the opportunities they’re given for promotion or advancement.”

The anonymous survey asked workers if they would recommend their employer to friends and family, and to evaluate their employer on working conditions, diversity, compensation packages, the potential for development and company image. They were also asked about other employers in their states and were given the opportunity to rate employers anywhere within their respective industries.

Of the 1,392 organizations on the list, 1,123 of them were ranked in only one state. The others were ranked in more than one state.