Forbes, in partnership with market research firm Statista, has published its World’s Best Employers 2026 list, based on the views of more than 300,000 employees across more than 50 countries.
The survey covered employees at multinational companies with more than 1,000 workers. Participants were asked how likely they would be to recommend their employer to friends or family, while also rating companies on benefits, talent development, workplace environment, and opportunities for training and career advancement.
Employees could also assess previous employers they had worked for within the past two years, as well as other companies they knew through their professional experience, industry knowledge, friends or colleagues.
Microsoft retains top position
Microsoft has retained the top spot in the World’s Best Employers 2026 ranking, marking the third consecutive year the technology company has taken first place.
Delta Air Lines remains in second place, while e-commerce platform Shopify climbed sharply to third, up from 14th place in the previous ranking.
Costco moved from 12th to fourth, while Nvidia completes the top five.
Adobe ranks sixth, with its employees working on widely used design, creative and video-editing software.
Growth and trust remain important
Mark Keiter, head of the Centre for Strategy and Performance at the University of Cambridge, said leading global employers understand the importance of clarity, access to the resources needed to achieve goals and trust.
He said strong employers establish clear principles for managing their workforce while giving employees the autonomy to decide how they organise and manage their work.
Keiter also highlighted career development as an important factor in employee retention, arguing that workers often stay with organisations where they can build skills, gain confidence and take on more meaningful roles.
Adobe highlights employee benefits
Adobe, which ranks sixth, offers a range of benefits adapted to the needs of employees in different countries.
In the US, employees can receive company shares, life and accident insurance with the costs fully covered by Adobe, as well as 16 weeks of fully paid parental leave.
The company also provides subsidised childcare and offers up to $10,000 towards tuition and professional certifications.
Nedbank ranks 26th
South African banking group Nedbank ranks 26th in the global World’s Best Employers 2026 list.
The bank places emphasis on an inclusive workplace culture, encouraging employees to participate in initiatives addressing social issues and use their financial expertise to support the communities it serves.
The research also highlights recognition and rewards for employees as important factors in retaining staff, whether they are provided formally or informally.
The full top 50 ranking includes companies from a range of sectors, reflecting the different approaches multinational employers take to employee development, workplace culture and benefits.
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