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

VIRGINIA — Forty-six companies headquartered in Virginia 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 Virginia companies on the list are:

1. Vienna-based Navy Federal Credit Union, founded in 1933 and now employing 14,700 people; CEO Mary McDuffie.

2. McLean-based Hilton Worldwide Holdings, founded in 1919 and now employing 159,000 people; CEO Christopher Nassetta.

3. Chesapeake Public Schools, founded in 1963 and now employing 5,586 people; Superintendent Jared Cotton.

4. Charlottesville-based University of Virginia, founded in 1819 and now employing 17,502 people; president James Ryan.

5. Blacksburg-based Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, founded in 1872 and now employing 13,000 people; president Timothy Sands.

A full list of the 1,39 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.