The Best Employers for New Graduates in America
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The first job after graduation is an essential stepping stone that can often define one’s future career path and opportunities. While today’s new grads are entering one of the strongest job markets in decades, the U.S. labor market has become increasingly competitive in the past couple of years post-pandemic.
While the pandemic boom led the unemployment rate to fall as low as 3.4%, it now stands at 4.3% as of July, which is still low by historical standards. Additionally, the ratio of job openings to unemployed individuals has dropped to 1.2, down from a peak of more than two in 2022.
With U.S. college graduates hunting for their first foray into America’s workforce, the above graphic shows the best companies to work for according to new grads using data from Forbes.
Methodology of the Best Employers for New U.S. Grads
For the rankings, companies were assessed based on three years of survey results from more than 100,000 young professionals with under 10 years of work experience.
Organizations with 1,000 or more employees were rated based on the following criteria. In addition, respondents were asked if they would recommend working for their employer.
Compensation
Benefits
Flexibility
Working conditions
Company image
Inclusion
Opportunities for advancement
The Best Companies for New Grads in 2024
Below, we show the best employers for new grads across 400 organizations analyzed:
2024 RankingCompanyIndustryNumber of
Employees
1Delta Air LinesTransportation and
Logistics100,000
2In-N-Out BurgerRestaurants27,000
3American ExpressBanking and Financial
Services26,000
4Dutch Bros. CoffeeRestaurants24,000
5UCLA HealthHealthcare & Social
Services32,000
6Ally FinancialBanking and Financial
Services11,600
7Takeda
PharmaceuticalDrugs & Biotechnology49,095
8GoogleIT Software & Services190,711
9BusinesssolverIT Software & Services1,256
10GarminSemiconductors, Electronics,
Electrical Engineering19,000
11Principal Financial GroupBanking and Financial
Services19,800
12MicrosoftIT Software & Services122,000
13Kimberly-ClarkPackaged Goods14,349
14University of Tennessee,
KnoxvilleEducation1,700
15BridgestoneAutomotive
(Automotive and Suppliers)129,260
16University of MichiganEducation56,476
17World Wide TechnologyIT Software & Services10,000
18Bristol Myers SquibbDrugs & Biotechnology20,119
19Houston MethodistHealthcare & Social
Services32,058
20ChevronConstruction, Chemicals,
Raw Materials19,975
Ranking first overall is Delta Air Lines, rated highly for its inclusion practices and corporate reputation.
As America’s most reliable airline, Delta provides a number of employee benefits such as 401(k) matching, family care benefits, flight discounts, and professional development initiatives. In addition, the company distributed $1.4 billion through profit sharing in early 2024, where employees are paid up to $1,200 per year by reaching operational goals.
In-N-Out Burger takes second spot, driven largely by its competitive compensation and career growth opportunities. On average, store managers at the iconic California chain make $180,000 in salary, roughly three times the industry average. Like Delta, the company offers profit-sharing plans.
American Express, ranked third, received high ratings in opportunities for advancement. The company is known for an enterprise career growth model that encourages employees to take ownership of their professional development. As part of this model, the company offers a wide range of training programs designed to strengthen leadership skills.
Ranking in eighth is Google, the top-ranking tech firm on the list. From cloud technical residencies to digital marketing programs, the company offers a number of initiatives for recent university graduates. Microsoft ranks in 12th, providing a two-year career development experience for new grads across roles ranging from technical sales to operations management.
Learn More on the Voronoi App
To learn more about the best companies to work for in the U.S., check out this graphic ranking America’s best places to work at from 2020 to 2024.
The post Ranked: The Best Employers for New Graduates in America appeared first on Visual Capitalist.