Universum, the global leader in employer branding, released the annual ranking of the Most Attractive Employers in the U.S.  Based on a recent survey of more than 70,000 students in the United States, the rankings reveal where students want to work the most, and why.  

Visit www.universumglobal.com/rankings/united-states-of-america to view this year’s Most Attractive Employer Rankings.

Overall, students are attracted to companies where they will find a strong sense of purpose

When asked about what organizational attributes they want in future employers, “inspiring purpose” was students’ top choice overall, with more than 54 percent of respondents choosing it. This was followed by “respect for their people” and “a creative work environment.”

Similarly, being dedicated to a cause ranks in the top 3 most important career goals for undergraduates (coming after having work/ life balance and being secure/ stable in a job).

“We see company purpose coming to the forefront for this group,” says Kevin Troy, Americas Head of Research & Insights. “Students want to be purpose-driven and make an impact in their careers. When we take a closer look, many of the top-ranked companies this year are highly associated with inspiring purpose by students across all fields of study.”  

Business students look to launch careers in professional services and tech; while engineers seek opportunities within space and defense industry

While the most attractive employers for business students represent a range of industries, professional and financial services firms, as well as tech companies dominate for business students. These students are most attracted to organizational attributes like leaders who support development, followed closely by leadership opportunities.   

For engineering talent, space and defense companies and tech firms are highly attractive. These students are most interested in organizational attributes like innovation and a creative/ dynamic work environment, followed by leaders who support development.      

Not surprisingly, software firms secured the top spots for computer science talent. Like their engineering peers, these students prefer companies that will offer a creative and dynamic work environment and innovation. When it comes to their long-term career goals, interest in being a technical expert has significantly declined over the last several years. Instead, having work/ life balance and job security are being prioritized for this group of students. 

About Universum

Universum is an international company which specializes in the field of employer branding. Universum’s mission is to help employers excel in recruitment and retention by ensuring improvements to their employer brand. Universum delivers a full range of services in research, strategic consulting and communication solutions that enable employers to better understand, attract and retain current and future ideal employees. For more information, go to www.universumglobal.com